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^^^^^s/^^- 


v 


THE 


.AMERICAN 

NUMISMATIC    MANUAL 


or    THB 


CURRENCY  OR  MONEY  OF  THE  ABORIGINES, 


COLONIAL,  STATE,  AND  UNITED  STATES  COINS. 


HISTORICAL  AND  DESCRIPTIVE 
NOTICES    OF    EACH    COIN    OR    SERIES. 

BY 

MONTROVILLE   WILSON   DICKESON,  M.D., 

HEMBBB  or  THE  AHERICAN  ABSOaATIOK  FOR  THE  PROMOTION  OF  SCIENCE,  THE  BISTORIOAI.  80CIETT  OF  PEKN8TLTAKIA, 

TH«    ACADEMT    OP    NATURAL    SCIENCES    OP    PHILADELPniA,  AND    THE    ETHNOLOGICAL    SOCIETY  OP    NEW 

TOBK ;   FELLOW   OP  THE  KOTAL  60CIETT  OF  ANTIQUARIES  OF  COPENHAQEN,  ETC.  ETC. 

ILLUSTRATED  BY  TWENTY  PLATES  OF  FAC-SIMILES. 


SECOND  EDITION. 


PHILADELPHIA: 
J.   B.   LIPPINCOTT   &   CO. 

1860. 

&  " 


G 


\o 


Entered,  according  to  Act  of  Congress,  in  the  year  1860,  by 

MONTROVILLE  WILSON  DICKESON, 

in  the  Clerk's  OfiSce  of  the  District  Court  of  the  United  States  for  the  Eastern  District  of  Pennsylvania. 


8TBEE0TYPED  BY  J.  FAGAN. 


m 


DEDICATION. 


To  THE  People  op  the  American  Union. 

In  publishing  this  work,  the  basis  of  which  is  the  Anglo-American  Colonial  coins, 
I  have  endeavored  to  rescue  from  the  graves  of  modem  antiquity  those  original,  and, 
in  many  cases,  rude  representatives  of  value,  which,  to  the  early  colonists  and  their 
successors  for  many  years,  possessed  an  importance  in  developing,  conducting,  and 
advancing  their  agricultural  industry,  trade,  and  commerce,  equal  in  magnitude 
and  purpose,  relatively,  with  the  more  extended  and  perfect  appliances  of  the 
present  day. 

Contrasting  the  coinage  of  our  infant  colonies  with  that  of  the  present  time ;  their 
struggles  against  kingly  prerogative  for  its  existence,  with  the  undisturbed  authority 
of  the  people  over  the  same  subject  now,  is  an  instructive  commentary  relative  to 
their  triumphs  and  our  progress  as  freemen  since,  which  is  calculated  to  excite  our 
wonder  and  induce  our  gratitude. 

It  shows  that  our  fathers  were  so  constituted,  that  though  they  might  be  worn 
out,  they  could  not  be  crushed  in  their  contests  for  ultimate  freedom.  In  their 
weakness,  full  of  diplomacy  without  compromising  principle,  principle  was  their  bulwark 
in  all  their  contests  for  self-government.  Learning  from  dear-bought  experience,  that 
local  security  and  national  prosperity  could  neither  be  attained  nor  maintained  b}'  a 
legislation  of  foreign  dictation,  and  that  a  fair  but  just  independence  of  any  authority 

riii) 


229454 


IV  DEDICATION. 

but  their  own  could  not  be  achieved  but  by  making  themselves  sovereigns  instead  of 
remaining  subjects,  they  early  planted  the  seeds  of  liberty  in  every  practicable  form ; 
among  the  earliest  acts  of  which  was  the  establishment  of  the  Mint  at  Boston,  whose 
fruits,  meeting  the  popular  taste,  so  excited  the  colonial  appetite  for  more,  that  it  laid 
the  foundation  for  wants,  which  the  open  declaration  of  independence  in  1776,  and 
its  acknowledgment  in  1783,  could  only  appease. 

The  full  fruition  of  early  purposes  and  struggles  having  been  long  since  confirmed, 
may  our  country  still  further  exemplify  its  progressive  character;  and  through  the 
patriotism  and  vigilance  of  its  sovereigns,  occupy,  to  the  remotest  period  of  time,  its 
present  exalted  position  among  the  nations  of  the  earth ;  and  may  the  people  fail  not 
to  refresh  their  love  of  country  by  frequently  contemplating  the  feeble  sources  of  their 
origin  —  seeing  that  the  neglect  of  the  lessons  of  the  past  leaves  no  certain  guide  for 
the  future. 

THE   AUTHOR. 


u 


PEETACE. 


Coin  or  money  is  the  medium  which  mankind  has  adopted  to  facilitate  the  exchange 
of  one  commodity  for  another,  and,  consequently,  it  is  now  inseparable  from  the  trade, 
commerce,  and  exchanges  of  the  world. 

The  history  of  money,  in  our  own  country,  dates  from  the  lignite,  shells,  wampum, 
&c.,  &c.,  of  the  aborigines,  down  to  the  present  very  highly  artistic  coins  of  the  United 
States  Mint.  Thus,  in  coins  or  money,  as  in  the  arts  generally,  and  also  in  agriculture 
and  commerce,  the  advancement,  from  great  rudeness  to  comparative  perfection, 
excites  our  wonder;  so  effective,  for  improvement  and  progress  under  Providential 
arrangement  and  guidance,  has  been  man's  intellect,  which,  in  its  further  achievements 
and  victories,  it  is  not  gifted  with  the  prescience  to  unfold  or  determine. 

To  trace  the  progress  of  any  art,  from  its  rude  origin  up  to  the  period  of  its  present 
perfection,  is  an  agreeable  task,  and  it  induces  self-gratulation,  and  merits  public 
approval  and  support  in  proportion  to  its  utility.  It  is  peculiarly  gratifying  to  be  able 
to  contemplate  the  results  of  the  inventiveness  and  ingenuity  of  mankind,  gradually 
progressing,  and  finally  triumphing  over  all  obstacles  to  complete  success. 

The  coins  of  the  colonies  have  been  involved  in  much  obscurity,  and  the  facts  in 
relation  to  them  have  been  chiefly  derived  from  the  specimens,  and  such  history  in 
regard  to  them,  as  the  curious  and  scientific  have  collected  and  preserved. 

The  specimens  are  more  numerous,  and  have  been  better  taken  care  of  than  those 
of  any  other  art ;  so  natural  is  it,  and  ever  has  it  been,  for  mankind  in  all  ages  to  cling 
to  the  representatives  of  value. 

It  is  the  purpose  of  this  work,  as  far  as  practicable,  to  establish  the  origin,  and 
faithfully  describe  the  coins  and  coinage  of  our  country,  from  the  dawn  of  the  period 
when  the  pioneers  of  discovery,  settlement,  and  civilization,  experienced  the  necessity, 
and  adopted  the  measures,  for  founding  some  commercial  standard  or  representative  of 
value  in  their  commerce,  and  also  trade,  with  one  another,  down  to  the  present  very 
enlightened  era  in  our  history;  thus  forming  a  metallic  chain,  the  description  and 
history  of  the  links  of  which  will  embrace  every  feature  relevant  to  a  thorough 
knowledge  —  so  far  as  I  have  been  able  to  acquire  it  —  of  the  whole  and  its  parts ; 

(V) 


vi  PREFACE. 

and  thereby  imparting  to  the  student,  or  the  gentleman  of  leisure,  the  proper  relation 
of  coins  to  the  chronological  and  historical  events  therewith  connected. 

The  attention  paid  to  numismatics  in  other  countries  has  elicited  much  useful 
information,  and  induced  numerous  publications  upon  that  subject.  In  our  own 
country,  the  aboriginal — so  far  as  it  can  be  classed  under  that  head  —  and  the  colonial 
coins  —  the  main  purpose  of  my  effort  —  have  been  peculiarly  neglected  in  every  work 
of  the  kind.  In  collating  and  presenting,  therefore,  as  perfect  a  history  of  them,  as 
is  practicable,  I  have  expended  much  labor  and  time,  and  incurred  great  expense.  I 
hope  the  result  will  impart  much  pleasure  to  my  patrons,  and  contribute  something  to 
their  stock  of  information,  though  it  may  not  be  of  the  kind  that  adds  to  the  hoards 
of  their  metallic  treasures. 

In  the  present  age,  the  subject  of  money  can  be  no  intrusive  one;  as  it  certainly 
has  lost  none  of  the  attraction  or  interest,  which  the  fondness  for  its  acquisition  or 
possession  has  heretofore  given  to  it.  In  fact,  every  advancing  stage  of  civilization  or 
progress,  with  its  increased  refinements  and  luxuries,  has  but  enhanced  its  importance 
in  the  practical  estimation  of  mankind,  till  it  has  become  a  lever  in  the  movement  of 
the  world,  totally  eclipsing  the  conceptions  of  an  Archimedes,  or  any  other  physical 
or  mental  teacher  in  regard  to  power,  except  the  modern  disciple  of  gold. 

The  fac-similes  of  this  work  —  numerous  and  expensive  —  are  of  themselves  such  a 
collection  for  the  general  observer,  and  the  young  collector  of  coins,  as  has  never 
before  been  produced. 

Feeling,  as  I  do,  that  every  department  of  science  has  claims  to  the  public 
consideration  and  understanding,  this  volume  is  presented  with  the  hope  that  it  may 
meet  with  the  popular  approbation ;  it  being  my  purpose,  if  it  should  be  approved,  to 
prepare  an  edition  for  the  use  of  schools;  where  certainly  no  harm  could  arise  from 
proper  information  being  imparted  relative  to  the  origin  and  progress  of  our  metallic 
currency — occupying  as  it  has,  and  now  does,  a  paramount  relation  to  everything  that 
has  made  us  a  successful  agricultural,  manufacturing,  and  commercial  people,  and 
without  which  we  should  not  yet  have  emerged  from  our  infancy  as  a  nation. 

In  this  work,  I  am  indebted  to  the  Rev.  Joseph  Felt,  on  the  "Massachusetts 
Currency ;"  Henry  Noel  Humphreys,  "  on  the  coinage  of  the  British  Empire ;"  Lloyd 
P.  Smith,  Esq.,  Librarian  of  Philadelphia  Library;  Joseph  Mickley,  Esq.,  of  Philadelphia, 
for  access  to  his  fine  and  extensive  cabinet  of  coins ;  the  "  Manual"  and  "  Supplement" 
thereto,  by  Jacob  R.  Eckteldt  and  William  E.  Du  Bois,  Assayers  of  the  U.  S.  Mint ; 
Hon.  James  Ross  Snowden,  Director  of  the  Mint;  other  officers  of  that  institution, 
and  to  numerous  private  individuals;  to  all  of  whom  I  present  my  thanks. 

THE  AUTHOR. 


\ 


DESCRIPTION  OF  PLATES. 


Portrait  op  the  Author To  Face  Title-page. 

Frontispiece "           Page  11. 

ABORIGINAL  COINS. 

Plate  I.    Lignite Figures  1,  2,  3,  4,  5,  6,  7,  8, 

9,  12. 

«         Coal .f "  10, 11,  16, 17, 19. 

"            «     (Ancient  Britain) "  13,14,15. 

IT.     Lignite "  1. 

«          Coal  (Ancient  Britain) "  3,9,14. 

«          Stone "  2,13,15. 

«          Stone  Hatchets "  8,10. 

"          Jasper,  &c.,  Darts .' "  4,5,11,12. 

«        .  Lily  Encrinite "  6,7,16,17,18  19. 

m.    TerrarCotta «  1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8, 

9, 10, 11,  12,  13. 

rV.    Gold «  1,2. 

«          Galena «  6,7,8,9,10,11. 

«          Copper i'  12,13,14,15,21. 

"          Stone /. «  3,4,5,16. 

«          Copper  Beads  and  Tubes "  17,18,19,20. 

V.    Wampum. 

COLONIAL  COINS. 

VI.     Sommers*  Islands "  1, 

"          Massachusetts  Pattern-shilling "  2. 

"  .       New  England  Shilling  and  Six-pence "  3,4. 

"          Pine-tree  Shilling,  Six-pence,  and  Three-pence "  5,6,7. 

"          Oak-Tree  Shilling,  Six-pence,  Three-pence,  and  Two-pence "  8,9,10,11. 

«          Good  Samaritan  Shilling "  12. 

"          Lord  Baltimore  Shilling,  Six-pence,  Groat,  and  Penny «  13,14,15,16. 

yiL     Tin  Piece  — King  James  II «  1. 

./               "          Carolina  Half-Penny «  2. 

/\oi^\x''         "          Louisiana  Copper «  3. 

"          Rosa- Americana  Pennies,  Half-Pennies,  and  Farthing «  4,  5,  6,  7,  8,  9, 10. 

"          Granby  Coppers «  11,12. 

(yii) 


via 

Plate  VIII. 
u 

u 
u 
it 
u 

it 
it 
a 
it 
it 


IX. 


X. 


XI. 


xn. 


XIII. 


DESCRIPTION    OF    PLATES. 

Florida  Piece  —  Charles  III.,  Spain Figure 

Pitt  Piece  " 

Louisiana  Copper  " 

Virginia  Half-Pennies  —  Copper  and  Silver " 

"Washington  Piece".... " 

Continental  Currency " 

Janus  Copper " 

Massachusetts  Coppers " 

Pine-Tree  Copper " 

U.  S.  A.  Copper " 

Non  Dependens  Status " 

Nova  Constellatio  —  Gold " 

«  «  Silver " 

"  "  "      Immune  Columbia " 

«  «  Copper " 

Georgius  Triumpho " 

Anapolis  Shilling,  Six-pence,  and  Three-pence " 

Confederatio  Copper " 

Vermonts  Res  Publica  " 

Vermontensium  Res  Publica " 

Vermon  Auctori  —  Immune  Columbia " 

«  (I        « 

George  III.  —  Immune  Columbia " 

Auctori  Plebis " 

Georgius  III.  Rex » " 

Auctori  Connec " 

Nova  Csesarea " 

Immune  Columbia  —  New  Jersey " 

Neo  Eboracensis " 

New  York  Gold  Coin « 

Immunis  Columbia " 

Nova  Eborac " 

Liber  Natus  Libertato  Defendo " 

First  United  States  Cent « 

Kentucky  Coppers " 

Massachusetts  Cent  and  Half-Cent " 

New  York  Cent « 

Castoriand  Half^Dolkr « 

North  American  Token " 

De  Dansk  Americ " 

Washington  Cents " 

"  Tokens « 

"  Half-DoUar " 

«  Token « 

«  Cent « 

"  Copper " 

"  Half-Penny « 

«  Medalet « 

Liverpool  Half-Pennies " 


1. 
2. 
3. 

4,5. 
6. 
7. 
8. 

9,  10. 
11. 
12. 
13. 
1. 

2,8, 
4. 

5,6. 
7. 

8,  9, 10. 
11. 
12. 
13. 
14. 
15. 
1. 
2. 
3. 

4,  5,  6,  7,  8,  9, 10. 
11,  12,  13,  14,  15, 
16, 17, 18, 19,  20. 
21. 
1. 
2. 
3. 
4. 

5,6. 
7. 

8,12. 
9,10. 
11. 
13. 
14. 
15. 

1,  3,  4,  5,  6,  7,  9. 
2,10. 
8. 
1. 
2. 
3. 
4. 
5. 
4,6. 


DESCRIPTION    OF    PLATES. 


IX 


PATTERN  PIECES. 

Plate  XIIL     Cent,  1792 Figure 

«  "    —  Eagle  volant,  1855 " 

«  Disme,  1792  " 

«  Cent,  1792 " 

u  «         a    (i 

«  u    —Eagle,  1792 « 

((  ((  U  (C      ^ ^ cc 

«  Half-DoUar  — Trial,  1858 « 

«  Cent  — Eagle « 

"  "  — Liberty-Cap  —  Composition,  1854 " 

«  «  —  Composition,  1835 " 

«  "  —Indian  Princess,  1858 " 

«  "  —  Feuchtwanger,  1837 " 

«  «  —Composition,  1851 " 

«  "  —Ring,  1850 " 

«  Three-Cent  Pieces  " 

UNITED    STATES'    COINS. 

XIV.    E^gle,  1795 « 

«  "      Half-,  1795 « 

«  «         «     1798 " 

«  «      1797 « 

«  "      Quarter-,  1796 " 

«  "      Double-,  1849 " 

«  «      Quarter-,  1808 « 

«  «  "        1834 " 

«  «      Half-,  1834 « 

«  «      1838 « 

"  "      Half-,  1838 « 

«  "      Quarter-,  1838 " 

«  «      Half-,  1808 " 

«  Dollar,  Gold,  1849 " 

«  "  "     Indian  Princess,  1854 « 

"  "       Three- Piece,  Indian  Princess,  1854 " 

PATTERN    PIECES. 

"  Gold  Ring-Dollars  and  Half-Dollar,  1852 , « 

«  «    Dollar,  Liberty-cap,  1836 « 

XV.    Dollars,  Silver,  1794,  1796, 1798,  1840 « 

«  Half-Dollars,  Silver,  1794,  1803,  1808,  1837,  1840 « 

XVL     Quarter-Dollars,  1796,  1815, 1831,  1843, 1853 « 

"  Dimes,  1796,  1798,  1809,  1837,  1838 « 

«  Half-Dimes,  1792,  1795,  1796,  1829, 1837,  1839 « 

«  Dollar— Trial,  1836 " 

«  Three-Cent  Pieces  " 


•-u 


9. 

10. 

11.  ! 

12. 

13. 

14. 

15. 

16. 

17. 

18. 

19. 

20. 

21. 

22,  23,  24. 


1. 
2. 
3. 
4. 

5. 

6. 

7. 

8. 

9. 

10. 

11. 

12. 

13. 

14. 

15.  I 


)       ^ 


/ 


'A 


16.  / 


\ 


17, 18, 19. 
20. 


1,  2,  3,  4. 
5,  6,  7,  8,  9. 
1,  4,  7,  10,  15. 
18,  2,  5,  8,  11. 
3,  6,  9,  13, 12,  14 
19. 
16, 17. 


X 

Plate  XVH. 
(( 
{f 
(( 
u 
u 
tl 
u 
ft 
it 
it 
tt 
it 
t( 

xvm. 

« 

It 
tt 
(I 
tt 
tt 
tt 
tt 
tt 
tt 
tt 

id 

t 

tt 
tt 
tt 
ft 
ft 
tt 
tt 
ft 


DESCRIPTION    OF    PLATES. 

Cents,  Chain,  1793  Figures  1,  2. 

«      Wreath,  1793 "  3,4. 

"      Liberty-Cap,  1793,  1794,  1795,  1796 "  5,6,7,8. 

Cent,  Cue,  1796 "  9. 

"    Turban,  1808 "  10. 

"    Fillet,  1816 "  11. 

"         "     —fifteen  stars,  1817 "  12. 

«        «     —Three  Types,  1839  "  13,14,15. 

"    Nickel,  1856 "  16. 

Half-Cent,  Liberty-Cap,  1793,  1794,  1795,  1797 ".  17,  18,  19,  20. 

"          Cue,  1800 "  2L 

"          Turban,  1809 "  22, 

"              "        —twelve  stars,  1828 "  23. 

«          Fillet,  1840 "  24. 

Half-Eagle,  N.  C.  &  N,  Cal "  7. 

Ten  and  Five-Dollar  Pieces,  Oregon  Ex.  Co.,  Cal "  1,8. 

"                    "             Mofi"att&Co «  2,12. 

"                    "             Cinn.  Mining  and  Trading  Co.,  Cal..  "  4. 

«                    "             Pacific  Co "  3. 

"                    "             Massachusetts  and  California  Co "  6. 

'<                    «             Baldwin  &  Co «  10 

"                    "             Dubosq&Co "  9. 

«                   «            Shultz&Co "  11. 

«                    «             Mormon,  Utah "  5,14. 

"                    «             Dunbar  &  Co "  13. 

Ten-Dollar  Pieces,  U.  S.  Assay  Office  at  S.  Francisco,  Moffatt  &  Co.  "  18. 

Ingots,  Mofi"att  &  Co "  20,21. 

Bars,  F.  D.  Kohler,  Assayer  of  the  State  of  California "  19. 

Five  and  One-Dollar  Pieces,  North  Carolina "  15,  16,  17. 

Ten-dollar  Pieces,  Miners'  Bank,  San  Francisco,  California "  12. 

"             "      J.  S.  0 "  10. 

Twenty-five  and  Ten-Dollar  Pieces,  Templeton  Keed "  2,  7. 

Ten-Dollar  Pieces,  Cincinnati  Mining  and  Trading  Co "  4. 

"               "       Pacific  Co "  6. 

Tens  and  Twenty-Dollar  Pieces,  Baldwin  &  Co *'  8,  3,  13. 

Ten-Dollar  Piece,  Dubosq  &  Co "  11. 

Twenty  and  Two-and-a-half-Dollar  Pieces,  Mormon,  Utah "  5,  9. 

Fifty-Dollar  Piece,  U.  S.  Assay  Office,  San  Francisco,  California.  "  1. 

Gold  Dollar,  Half,  and  Quarter,  California "  14,  15,  16. 


TO 

COMMEMORATE    THE    TRIUMPH 

or 

AMERICAN  INDEPENDENCE. 

Device. — ^The  bust  of  the  Goddess  of  Liberty :  the  liberty-pole,  sunnonnted  by  the  cap,  rests  against 
the  right  shoulder,  and  the  hair  is  blown  back,  as  if  by  the  wind  against  which  the  goddess 
appears  to  be  running,  to  announce  to  the  world  the  tidings  of  her  victory. 

L^erMf.—LIBBRTA8  AMERICANA  4  JUIL,  1776.- 

Reverie. — ^Pallas,  holding  in  her  left  hand  a  shield  with  three  flenr  de  lis  —  the  arms  of  France — -and 
opposing  it  to  a  leopard  —  England — which  is  springing  toward  it :  her  right  hand  is  drawn 
back  and  holds  a  barbed  javelin,  as  if  in  the  act  of  plunging  it  into  the  leopard.  Under  the 
shield  is  an  infant  in  a  stooping  posture,  strangling  a  serpent  with  each  hand,  and,  apparently, 
contemplating  the  same  act  upon  another  at  its  feet. 

X«7en(?.— NON  SINE  DHS  ANIMOSUS  INFANS.» 

Exerque. — 17  /-v  .    1777 
19  ^°*-  1781 

According  to  ancient  mythology,  Hercules,  under  the  protection  of  Pallas,  is  said  to  have  strangled 

two  serpenta  which  had  assaulted  him  in,  his  cradle.    Infant  America,  like  Hercules  in  his  cradle,  had 

destroyed  two  armies  —  Burgoyne's,  which  surrendered  at  Saratoga,  Oct.  17, 1777,  and  Comvallis',  at 

Yorktown,  Oct.  19,  1781.  —  Mecue't  Description  of  American  Medals. 

The  embellishments  and  illustrations  in  this  j^ork,  by  Rosenthal  Brothers,  of  Philadelphia,  are,  of 
themselves,  sufficient  encomium  upon  their  taste  and  skill  as  lithographers.  I  cannot,  however,  forego 
the  expression  of  my  personal  appreciation  of,  and  indebtedness  to  them  for,  the  zeal  with  which  they 
entered  into  the  work,  and  prosecuted  it  to  completion  —  evidencing  not  only  pre-eminence  in  their 
art,  but  a  corresponding  interest  in  whatever  is  useful  or  beautiful.  M.  W.  D. 


TIk'  infant's  strength  was  dependent  upon  the  gods.  —  Horace.  Ode  IV  ,  Book  III.,  Verse  20 


^^ 


THE 


AMERICAN    NUMISMATICAL    MANUAL. 


INTRODUCTION. 

Having  no  parentage  in  the  arts,  except  from  our  famous  old  mother,  England  — 
our  predecessors,  the  aborigines,  when  we  came  among  them  upon  this  continent, 
being  armed  with,  and  possessed  of  no  traces  of  civilization,  not  since  exhumed  from 
their  mounds,  and  they  superseded  in  value  by  the  progress  of  the  arts  of  other 
nations  —  we  not  only  trace  our  lineage  to  her,  but  in  our  connection,  otherwise,  as 
scion  and  pupil  so  long,  look  to  her  records  and  acts.  Hence,  to  begin  where  she  did 
in  coinage,  and  follow  it  up  to  the  period  when,  having  set  up  for  ourselves,  we  adopted 
a  national  coinage  of  our  own,  cannot  but  be  both  entertaining  and  instructive. 

Temples,  statues,  triumphal  arches,  or  any  monuments  of  art,  have  been  of  vast 
importance  in  elucidating  and  testing  the  chronicles  and  histories  of  past  times,  and 
often  in  bringing  to  light  important  events  in  the  history  of  the  world,  of  which  no 
written  record  existed.     Coins,  similarly  applied,  become  the  more  positive  evidence. 

A  coin,  find  it  where  we  may,  is  an  index  to  the  people  who  originally  issued  it, 
and  truly  indicative  of  their  state  of  civilization.  The  date  of  the  foundation  of 
Korae,  as  accepted  by  the  Romans  themselves,  is  proved  by  a  coin  struck  by  the 
Emperor  Philip  II.,  to  commemorate  the  millennium  of  the  city.  The  inscription  of 
this  coin  states  it  was  issued  in  the  year  of  his  third  consulship,  the  period  of  which 
being  known,  the  foundation  of  Rome  is  fixed  at  one  thousand  years  before  that  event. 
Other  Roman  coins,  where  triumphal  arches  have  crumbled  to  dust,  and  statues  have 
been  overthrown,  record  such  great  historical  facts  as  "Judaea  Capta,"  "Victorias 
Brittanicae,"  "Aegypto  Capta,"  and  others  of  equal  importance. 

Astronomy  acquires  evidence  from  the  device  on  a  coin  of  Augustus  Caesar,  of  the 
appearance  of  a  great  comet  at  a  certain  period.     This  comet  was  supposed  by  the 

(11) 


12  INTRODUCTION. 

populace  of  Rome  to  have  been  the  spirit  of  Julius  Caesar  after  his  apotheosis.  Sir 
Isaac  Newton  availed  himself  of  the  use  of  coins,  in  testing  the  dates  of  his  great 
work  on  ancient  chronology;  and  through  these  means,  the  names  of  upwards  of  two 
thousand  places,  provinces,  and  princes,  have  been  preserved — many  of  them  having 
no  other  record.  In  portraiture,  coins  are  of  the  greatest  interest ;  the  Greek  and 
Roman  series  furnishing  accurate  representations  of  the  features  of  Alexander  the 
Great,  the  Ptolemies,  Caesar,  Augustus,  Homer,  Sappho,  and  Cicero ;  who,  though  not 
placed  upon  the  public  coinage  during  their  lives,  were  afterwards  engraved  on  the 
public  money  of  different  States,  in  honor  of  their  memory.  Ancient  works  upon 
portraiture  are  chiefly  indebted  for  their  value  to  the  portraits  found  upon  coins. 

Lost  history  has  been  revealed  through  the  medium  of  recently-discovered  coins.  I 
refer  to  the  series  of  "  Graeco  Bactrian"  and  "  Graeco  Indian"  coins.  After  the  death 
of  Alexander  the  Great,  his  powerful  lieutenants  divided  up  his  empire  among 
themselves,  each  erecting  for  himself  an  independent  sovereignty  out  of  the  conquered 
provinces ;  but,  of  the  names  of  the  rulers  in  north-western  India,  only  eight  of  the 
immediate  successors  of  Alexander  were  preserved.  The  discovery  of  these  coins  has 
extended  the  number  to  twenty,  and  the  coins  of  their  more  barbarous  successors 
disclose  a  series  extending  from  the  third  century  before,  to  the  twelfth  century  after, 
the  Christian  era. 

The  earliest  money  transaction  on  record,  is  that  in  which  it  is  related  that  Abraham 
weighed  to  Ephron  "  four  hundred  shekels  of  silver,  current  money  with  the  merchant," 
in  payment  for  the  field  of  Machpelah.  These  were,  doubtless,  mere  pieces  of  silver 
without  stamp  or  mark,  which  passed  by  weight  only,  as  the  term  shehtl,  to  weigh, 
fully  implies.  The  term  used  in  the  book  of  Job  for  money  is  not  shekel,  but  "  kesitah," 
a  lamb,  from  the  image  of  that  animal  having  been  stamped  on  the  pieces  of  the 
weight  of  a  shekel,  as  the  image  of  an  ox  was  subsequently  placed  on  the  Roman 
pound  weight  of  copper.  The  shekel,  when  long  afterwards  issued  in  the  form  of  a 
positive  coin,  was  of  the  weight  of  two  Greek  drachms,  and  equal  to  about  fifty-six 
cents,  or  about  the  value  of  a  lamb  at  that  period.  On  the  obverse  of  this  coin,  was 
the  sacred  cup  of  manna,  and  on  the  reverse,  the  rod  of  Aaron,  on  which  three  flowers 
are  perceptible.  The  inscriptions  were,  on  the  obverse,  "  Shekel  of  Israel,"  and  the 
reverse,  "  Jerusalem  the  Holy."  Some  have  such  inscriptions  as  "  Saviour  Prince  of 
Israel,"  "  the  first  year  of  the  deliverance  of  Israel,"  &c.  &c. 

As  commerce  increased,  from  the  time  of  Abraham  to  that  of  Micah,  who  lived 
about  1500  B.  C,  commercial  wants  increased,  and  the  pieces  of  silver  used  in  trade 
were  largely  augmented  at  the  expense  of  their  size ;  for  a  transaction  of  Micah  with 
his  mother  refers  to  a  thousand  pieces  of  silver ;  and  similar  sums  are  mentioned  three 


INTRODUCTION.  18 

centuries  later,  in  the  transaction  of  the  five  lords  of  the  Philistines  and  Delilah ;  and 
that  they  were  very  small  pieces,  is  evident  from  the  statement,  that  the  lords  brought 
the  money  in  their  hands — probably  in  sealed  bags,  each  containing  a  certain  weight. 

The  Jews,  it  is  said,  did  not  adopt  the  use  of  positive  coins  till  long  after  their 
introduction  into  other  countries.  From  the  time  of  Abraham,  however,  to  that  of 
the  Maccabees,  about  144  years  B.  C,  they  had,  like  other  oriental  nations,  in  addition 
to  common  money,  formed  of  small  pieces  of  silver,  a  kind  of  jewel-money,  consisting 
of  personal  ornaments  adjusted  to  a  certain  weight,  which,  if  occasion  required,  might 
be  used  as  money.  Such  are  the  jewels  mentioned  in  Genesis  xxiv.  22,  as  given  by 
Abraham's  servant  to  Rebekah.  '*  The  man  took  a  golden  ear-ring  of  half  a  shekel  in 
weight,  and  two  bracelets  for  her  hands,  of  ten  shekels'  weight  of  gold."  They  also  had 
ring-money,  such,  undoubtedly,  as  was  used  by  the  Celtic  nations  of  the  West.  This 
ring-money  of  the  East  appears  to  have  been  formed  of  wire,  so  attached  together  — 
not  being  fastened  —  that  portions  could  be  detached  at  pleasure  from  the  chain. 
Representations  of  this  kind  of  money  are  found  in  hieroglyphic  sculptures,  where 
men  are  represented  as  weighing  rings,  and  a  scribe  is  taking  an  account  of  their 
number  and  value.  Similar  rings  are  still  current  as  money  in  Nubia,  and  the  portion 
of  this  work  devoted  to  the  aboriginal  currency  of  North  America,  will  show  that 
they  were  in  use  as  such  among  the  Indians.  The  bags  of  silver  given  by  Naaman  to 
Gehazi,  2  Kings,  v.  23,  may  or  may  not  have  contained  the  ring-money,  their  weight 
probably  being  a  talent ;  among  the  Hebrews,  a  weight  and  denomination  of  money 
equivalent  to  3000  shekels.  As  a  weight,  therefore,  it  was  equal  to  about  931  lbs. 
avoirdupois;  as  a  denomination  of  silver,  it  has  been  variously  estimated  at  from  .£340 
to  £396  sterling,  or  from  about  $1500  to  $1800.  Other  kinds  of  money  of  a  ruder 
character  also  existed,  such  as  engraved  stones,  like  the  Egyptian  scarebei,  pieces  of 
cloth,  slices  of  salt  of  an  estimated  value,  the  remnants  of  patriarchal  times  and 
customs,  which  still  form  the  currency  of  some  parts  of  northern  Africa. 

To  the  Greeks,  that  once  noble  people,  to  whom  the  world  is  so  largely  indebted  for 
so  many  features  of  civilization,  we  must  ascribe  the  first  invention  of  positive  coins 
as  money.  As  it  is  natural  that  the  honor  of  origin  of  any  creation  in  art,  conferring 
either  individual  or  national  distinction,  should  be  contested,  some  have  given  prece- 
dence, in  time,  to  the  Persian  daric  of  gold  and  silver  —  coins  equal  to  our  five-dollar 
and  quarter-dollar  pieces.  Others  place,  as  first,  the  Phoenician  coins  struck  in  the 
island  of  Malta ;  and  others,  again,  the  brass  money  of  Italy.  In  neither  of  which, 
however,  except  the  Greek,  has  there  been  that  gradual  development  of  the  art  of 
coining,  from  the  stamping  of  the  simple  lump  of  metal,  through  all  its  phases,  to  that 
of  the  perfect  coin. 


14  INTRODUCTION. 

The  first  species  of  money  that  was  circulated  by  tale  instead  of  weight,  of  which 
we  have  any  account,  consisted  of  spikes,  in  shape,  of  brass  or  iron ;  six  of  these 
being  as  many  as  the  hand  could  grasp.  From  this  rude  money  were  derived  the 
words  oholus  and  drachma,  meaning  spike  and  handfull,  which  continued  to  be  the 
names  of  two  well-known  pieces  of  Greek  money ;  the  latter  of  which  had  a  value 
equal  to  six  of  the  former.  Drachma  is  the  name  of  the  principal  coin  now  in  use 
in  Greece. 

The  date  of  the  change  in  Greek  money  from  weight  to  positive  coins,  of  specific 
and  guaranteed  value,  cannot  be  determined ;  but  as  Homer  states,  that  an  ox  was 
exchanged  for  a  "  bar  of  brass  of  certain  size;"  that  a  woman  who  understood  several 
useful  arts  was  of  the  value  of  four  oxen ;  that  the  brazen  armor  of  Diomedes  was 
of  that  of  nine  oxen,  and  the  golden  armor  of  Glaucus  of  that  of  one  hundred  oxen, 
we  must  conclude  that  a  positive  coinage  did  not  exist  in  his  time ;  while  the  allusion 
in  the  laws  of  Lycurgus  to  gold  and  silver  coins  prove  that  they  were  then  in  use ; 
and  hence,  then,  between  these  two  epochs,  we  must  place  the  invention  of  coined 
money. 

Herodotus  states  that  the  Lydians  were  the  first  to  issue  gold  coins.  The  first 
appearance  of  gold  coins,  however,  whether  Greek  or  Lydian,  is  determined  to  have 
taken  place  about  eight  hundred  years  before  the  Christian  era,  and  to  have  been 
followed  b}^  an  issue  of  silver  coins,  of  a  similar  character,  in  the  island  of  ^gina, 
about  fifty  years  later,  by  Phidon,  prince  of  Argos.  The  first  symbol  placed  upon 
these  coins  was  of  a  sacred  character  —  emblems  referring  to  protective  gods,  and 
images  of  the  gods  themselves ;  but  not  till  after  the  age  of  Alexander,  were  portraits 
of  sovereigns  either  allowed  or  introduced. 

The  principles  of  the  Greek  coinage  were  rapidly  extended  through  the  north  of 
Greece  into  transalpine  Gaul,  and,  radiating  from  another  centre  of  Greek  civilization, 
the  ancient  colony  of  Massitia,  now  Marseilles,  extended  northward  even  to  the  then 
remote  island  of  Britain,  where  imitations  of  the  coins  issued  by  Philip  of  Macedon 
and  Alexander,  began  to  supersede  the  Celtic  ring-money. 

Asia  Minor  being  rich  in  gold — the  fabulous  richness  of  the  sands  of  Pactolus  being 
known  to  every  school-boy — its  first  coinage  was  of  gold.  Italy  and  Sicily  abounding 
in  copper,  their  first  emissions  were  of  that  material,  or  rather  a  mixture  of  copper 
and  other  metals  termed  -^s,  a  term,  perhaps,  for  bronze.  The  litra,  in  Sicily,  and  the 
libra,  in  Italy,  was  the  unit  upon  which  this  bronze  coinage  was  founded.  The  pound 
weight  of  copper  first  received  a  State  impress  in  Rome,  to  pass  as  coin,  in  the  reign 
of  Servius  TuUius,  about  578  b.  C.  These  coins,  from  being  impressed  with  the  itiiages 
of  cattle,  such  as  oxen,  sheep,  &c.,  were  called  pecunia,  from  the  Latin  pecua,  cattle, 


INTRODUCTION.  15 

which  has  now  been  so  long  translated  money.  The  Eomans  did  not  issue  a  silver 
coinage  till  the  year  281  B.  c,  when  its  standard  was  based  upon  that  of  the  Greek 
drachma.  The  drachma  being,  at  that  time,  of  the  value  of  ten  Roman  oeses,  the  new 
silver  coin  was  denominated  a  Denarius,  or  piece  of  ten  ceses.  This  piece  became  the 
parent  of  the  silver  pennies  of  the  Anglo-Saxon  coinage,  and  of  those  of  France, 
where  the  silver  pieces  corresponding  to  English  pennies  are  still  called  Deniers,  par- 
ticularly in  the  provincial  districts  of  that  country.  The  Romans  coined  gold  in 
207  B.  c.  Their  standard  gold  coin  was  called  the  Aurevs,  and  was  worth  twenty-five 
Denarii. 

Such  was  the  state  of  the  Roman  coinage  at  the  time  of  their  conquest  of  Britain, 
where  their  coins  soon  superseded  those  of  the  natives. 

CaBsar  states  that  the  Gauls  used  for  money  gold  and  iron  rings  of  a  certain  weight. 
The  lowest  denomination  of  the  ring-money  was  found  to  be  exactly  one-half  penny, 
weight,  which  was  the  unit  from  which  the  larger  sizes  were  graduated.  The  gra- 
dations of  value  existed  up  to  13  oz,  7  dwts.  The  system  of  ring-money  in  Ire- 
land was  about  as  perfect  as  real  coins.  This  ring-money  not  only  existed  in  England 
and  Scotland,  but  probably  continued  in  use  as  currency  till  it  was  superseded  by  the 
more  convenient  coinage  of  the  Roman  empire.  The  Britons,  from  their  proximity 
to  Gaul,  received  thence  the  coined  money  of  the  Greeks  at  an  early  day,  which 
was  displacing  the  ring-money  very  rapidly,  even  before  the  conquest  of  the  Romans. 

Caesar,  in  speaking  of  the  civilization  of  the  Britons,  says,  "  They  had  both  lozenge 
and  gold  money;  or,  instead  of  money,  rings  adjusted  to  a  certain  weight."  There 
were,  also,  rude  coins  of  tin,  evidently  of  native  workmanship.  Tin,  the  ancient 
staple  of  the  island  of  Britain,  establishes  the  truth  of  the  existence  and  the  anti- 
quity of  these  coins.  Following  these,  then,  were  coins  of  Greek  form  and  style; 
then  came  coins  bearing  the  names  of  British  districts  or  cities ;  and  next  came  those 
bearing  the  names  of  chiefs  or  rulers.  Caesar  also  speaks  of  Comius  as  possessing 
considerable  influence,  and  of  coins  bearing  the  name  Epillus,  son  of  Comius,  which 
may  be  attributed  to  him. 

The  British  prince,  Cunobeline  —  the  Cymbeline  of  Shakspeare  —  whose  dominions 
extended  over  Norfolk,  Suffolk,  and  Essex,  and  much  of  the  country  west  of  the 
Severn,  issued  coins  bearing  his  own  o^gy  and  name,  Cunobelinus,  in  full.  He  is  said 
to  have  visited  Rome  in  the  reign  of  Augustus,  and  to  have  brought  back  with  him 
Roman  artists  to  superintend  his  coinage.  Taciovanus,  supposed  to  have  been  of 
Gallic  origin,  but  holding  dominion  in  Britain,  had  coins  also  bearing  his  name. 

In  the  4 2d  year  of  the  era  of  Britain,  the  southern  parts  of  the  island  were 
subjugated  by  the  Emperor  Claudius,  and  the  Roman  coinage  soon  after  gained  the 


16  '  INTRODUCTION. 

ascendent.  The  first  allusion  to  Britain  on  a  Roman  coin,  occurs  in  those  issued  under 
that  emperor  —  followed  by  those  issued  under  Britannicus,  the  son  of  Claudius; 
Septimus  Severus,  who  died  in  York,  Eng.,  A.  D.  211 ;  Caracalla,  Geta,  Postumus, 
Victorinius,  Marius;  British  coins  of  the  usurper  Carausius,  under  the  reign  of 
Maximianus ;  Allectus,  his  treacherous  successor,  Constantine  the  Great,  Crispus,  and 
Constantius.  Roman  coin  thus  circulated  in  Britain  till  the  final  abandonment  of  the 
country,  about  A.  d.  414. 

The  Saxons  now  succeeded  the  Romans  in  Britain,  and  as  their  money  is  totally 
different  from  that  of  the  Romans,  it  must  have  been  brought  into  the  island  with 
them,  along  with  a  new  set  of  weights,  values  and  measures.  Their  coins  were  called 
SkeattaB  —  Latinized  Scatta  —  a  term  which  Ruding  derives  from  a  Saxon  word 
meaning  a  portion ;  and  which  he  illustrates,  by  supposing  that  these  coins  were  a 
portion  of  some  merely  nominal  sum,  by  which  large  amounts  were  calculated.  They 
were  mentioned  after  the  adoption  of  the  Saxon  silver  penny,  in  the  laws  of  ^thelstan, 
where  it  is  stated  that  30,000  skeattae  are  equal  to  <£  120,  which  would  make  them 
about  one  twenty-fifth  part  less  in  value  than  a  penny  sterling.  Of  the  origin  of  the 
word  penny,  Ruding  says :  "  It  is  variously  spelled  as  peneg,  peninc,  &c.,  and  some 
derive  it  from  the  Latin  word  'pendo,  to  weigh,  while  others  consider  pecunia  as  the 
parent  word."  The  penny,  with  occasional  half-pennies,  constituted  the  only  money 
of  the  country  up  to  the  reign  of  Edward  III.  It  was  intended  that  a  pound  Tower 
should  make  240  pennies,  giving  24  grains  to  each ;  but  this  weight  was  gradually 
decreased  by  successive  princes_,  22 J  grains  being  afterwards  deemed  full  weight,  and 
20  grains  being  about  the  average  weight  down  to  Henry  III.  Their  standard  purity 
seems  to  have  been  11  oz.  2dwt.  fine,  and  11  dwt.  alloy.  The  name  of  the  moneyer 
or  mint-master  of  the  district  in  which  the  piece  w^as  coined,  was  now — about  700  A.  D. 
—  generally  placed  on  the  reverse  of  the  coin  with  some  ornament,  and  afterwards  the 
name  of  the  place  of  mintage. 

Next  followed  the  coins  of  the  Saxon  Heptarchy  —  those  of  the  kings  of  Kent,  from 
the  accession  of  Ethelbert  in  A.  d.  568,  to  the  end  of  the  reign  of  Baldred,  A.  d.  823, 
under  whom  the  first  silver  penny  was  coined ;  of  the  kings  of  Mercia,  from  the  penny 
of  Eadwald  or  Ethelwald  to  that  of  Burgred  in  A.  d.  874,  the  last  of  the  Mercian 
princes;  of  the  kings  of  the  East  Angles,  the  earliest  emission  of  coins  by  whom,  were 
by  Beruna  in  A.  d.  750 ;  they  were  of  the  form  and  size  of  skeattae.  Guthram,  a 
Dane,  succeeded  to  the  throne,  who,  being  converted  to  Christianity,  was  baptized  by 
the  name  of  Ethelstan  in  A.  D.  878.  His  name  is  found  on  his  coins  with  Re  or  Rex, 
and  Rex  Ang. — Anglise  —  the  first  time  the  title  of  "King  of  England"  appears  on 
any  coin. 


INTRODUCTION.  17* 

The  Coins  of  the  Kings  of  Northumberland.  —  The  distinctive  feature  in  the 
Northumbrian  coins  is  their  metal,  a  composition  containing  in  a  hundred  parts,  60  to  70 
of  copper,  about  20  of  zinc,  5  to  11  of  silver,  with  minute  portions  of  gold,  lead  and  tin. 
These  coins  were  termed  stycas,  two  being  equal  to  a  farthing.  There  were  also  skeattae 
of  the  usual  purity  of  silver.  The  first  styca  was  by  Egfrith,  from  A.  d.  671  to  685. 
Eric,  the  son  of  Harold  of  Norway,  slain  A.  D.  951,  was  the  last  king.  His  coins 
were  silver  pennies.  Coins  of  saints  also  were  issued  under  his  reign ;  those  of  St. 
Peter  having  been  called  "Peter  Pence,"  and  erroneously  supposed  to  have  been  coined 
for  the  purpose  of  paying  to  Rome  the  tribute  known  by  that  name;  they  were 
silver  pennies,  coined  at  York.  There  were  others  bearing  the  name  of  St.  Martin, 
St.  Edmund,  &c. 

The  dignitaries  of  the  Church,  soon  after  the  firm  establishment  of  Christianity 
in  the  island,  had  authority  to  strike  money,  and  enjoy  the  profits  of  mintage. 
Archbishops  alone,  however,  had  the  privilege  of  stamping  these  coins  with  portraits 
and  names.  This  privilege  was  withdrawn  by  jEthelstan  in  A.  d.  924.  Subsequently, 
the  prelatical  coinage  was  distinguished  from  the  royal  by  peculiar  mint-marks,  and 
these  terminated  in  the  reign  of  Henry  VIII.  The  coins  of  the  Archbishops  of  York 
were  stycas,  till  they  became,  by  the  edict  of  -^thelstan,  assimilated  to  the  coins  of 
the  realm.  Ulphere  or  Vulphere,  who  held  this  See  from  A.  d.  854  to  892,  is  the  last 
prelate  whose  name  occurs  on  coins  of  the  Episcopal  mint. 

Next  in  order  are  the  coins  of  the  Saxon  and  Danish  sole,  monarchs  of  England; 
the  coins  of  Egbert  do  not  differ  in  general  from  those  of  the  kings  of  the  Heptarchy. 
Some  bear  the  king's  profile  with  his  name,  as  "  Ecgbeorht  Rex,"  with  a  cross  and  the 
moneyer's  name ;  the  style  the  same  under  Ethelwfl,  ^thelbearht,  ^thelred,  jElfred 
the  Great,  Edward  the  Elder,  ^thelstan,  ^Edmund,  Eadred,  Eading,  Eadgar,  Edward 
the  Martyr,  ^Ethelred,  the  son  of  Elfrida,  Edmund  Ironside ;  Cnut,  whose  coins  were 
very  numerous,  and  distinguished  by  340  variations  of  moneyer's  names,  and  more 
places  of  mintage  than  any  other.  Harold  I.,  whose  coins  resemble  those  of  the 
preceding  reign ;  Harthacnut,  of  whose  coins,  both  English  and  Danish  are  found ; 
Edward  the  Confessor,  whose  pennies  were  various  in  design,  but  differing  only  from 
those  of  his  predecessors  by  being  larger,  though  of  the  same  nominal  value ;  half-pence 
and  farthings  being  produced  by  cutting  the  penny  into  two  or  four  pieces.  Harold  H., 
who  issued  coins,  but  with  nothing  new  in  regard  to  them. 

At  the  period  of  the  Roman  conquest  of  England,  the  old  Celtic  ring-money  was 

still  used  in  many  parts  of  Ireland,  though  the  Danish  invaders,  who  had  subdued  the 

southern  part  of  the  island,  had  introduced  a  coinage  of  silver  pennies,  similar  to  that 

of  England.    The  Irish  had  no  other  money  than  ring-money,  till  the  Danish  invasion, 

3 


18  INTRODUCTION. 

as  no  other  coins  have  been  discovered,  except  the  series  of  Hiberno-Danish  coins, 
which  extend  from  that  period  down  to  its  subjection  by  the  Norman-Anglo  princes 
of  England,  in  the  reign  of  Henry  IL,  A.  d.  1154  to  1189.     After  the  subjection  of- 
Ireland  to  the  Anglo-Norman  princes,  the  first  coins  —  pennies,  half-pennies,  and  far- 
things— were  those  issued  by  John,  who  was  created  Lord  of  Ireland. 

Anglo-Norman  Kings.  —  Great  changes  in  the  coinage  might  have  been  expected 
from  this  succession  to  the  throne  of  England;  but  in  that  we  are  disappointed.  No 
improvement  took  place,  and  the  Saxon  types  were  still  adhered  to,  as  -well  as  the 
standard  and  weight.  The  emissions  were  all  silver  pennies;  and  half-pennies  and 
farthings  were  obtained  by  cutting  them  into  two  and  four  pieces.  William  Rufus, 
Henry  I.,  Stephen,  Henry  II.,  and  Richard  I.,  so  far  as  the  coinage  is  concerned,  did 
not  deviate,  except  for  the  worse,  from  the  precedent  of  their  illustrious  predecessor. 
Henry  III.  is  said  to  have  issued  a  coinage  of  half-pennies  and  farthings,  which  were 
afterwards  recalled.  He  also  issued  what  were  called  gold  pennies,  which  circulated 
but  for  a  short  time.  Ruding  describes  this  gold  coin  as  one  called  gold  pennies,  and 
weighing  two  sterlings,  and  coined  to  pass  for  twenty  pennies  of  silver;  but  that  it 
afterwards  passed  for  twenty-four,  or  two  shillings  of  12  pence.  He  says,  this  piece, 
properly  a  royal,  was  the  first  of  the  sort  coined  in  modern  Europe, 

Henry  III.  also  issued  an  Irish  coinage  similar  to  the  English  coinage  —  the  long 
double  cross  on  the  reverse,  and  the  legend,  on  the  obverse,  HERICUS  REX  III. 
The  coins  of  Edward  I.  exhibit  the  head  of  the  king,  designed,  for  the  first  time,  in  a 
manner  that  was  to  continue  without  alteration  for  eight  successive  reigns,  including 
that  of  Henry  VIII.  It  was,  in  fact,  a  new  conventional  king's  head  —  a  kind  of 
head  which,  in  colonial  times  in  America,  answered  for  George  III.,  Washington,  Pitt, 
or  any  other  distinguished  person  for  whom  an  efiigy  was  wanted.  Edward  I. 
had  the  credit  of  coining  the  first  groats,  or  fourteen-penny  pieces.  Edward  III., 
1327  to  1377.  —  The  silver  coinage  of  this  reign  was  groats,  half-groats,  pennies,  half- 
pennies, and  farthings.  The  words  ''Dei  Gratia"  were  adopted  for  the  first  time,  on 
English  coins,  during  this  reign ;  first  on  the  gold  coins,  and  afterwards  on  the  groats ; 
though  it  had  appeared  on  the  great  seal  since  William  I.,  and  on  the  coins  of  France 
since  the  time  of  Charlemagne,  who  seems  to  have  adopted  Christianity  as  his  watch- 
word. The  great  feature,  however,  of  this  reign,  was  the  coinage  of  gold ;  and  the 
attempt  of  Henry  III.  being  too  partial,  it  may  be  considered  England's  first  gold 
coinage.  Three  denominations  of  gold  were  coined,  to  be  current  at  6s.,  3s.,  and 
Is.  6cZ.,  being  called  florins,  half-florins,  and  quarter-florins  —  derived  from  the  cele- 
brated gold  coin  of  Florence.  It  was  the  name  only  that  was  adopted,  the  devices  and 
values  being  original  and  national.     The  noble  being  rated  too  high,  this  gold  coinage 


INTRODUCTION.  19 

was  recalled.  The  gold  nobles  were  then  determined  on;  these  were  nobles,  half- 
nobles,  and  quarter-nobles;  the  first  denomination  passing  at  6s.  Sd.  Richard  II., 
1377  to  1399,  issued,  without  change,  groats,  half-groats,  pennies,  halfpence,  farthings, 
and  gold  nobles.  Henry  IV.  reduced  the  pennies  from  18  to  15  grains.  Nothing  new 
under  Henry  V.,  except  some  further  improvement  in  the  style  of  coinage.  Heni}^  VI. 
ordered  a  groat  of  45  grains  to  be  struck ;  also,  two  coins  of  base  metal,  an  Irelande 
d' argent,  to  pass  for  a  penny,  and  a  Patrick,  to  pass  for  one-eighth  of  a  penny,  for  Ire- 
land. Edward  IV.  —  His  silver  coins  were  exactly  like  those  of  preceding  reigns. 
The  gold  nobles  were  increased  in  value  to  Ss.  4:d.,  the  value  of  the  precious  metals 
being  enhanced.  It  was  this  king  who  encouraged  and  invoked  the  aid  of  the 
Alchymists,  announcing,  with  confidence,  that  he  should  soon  be  able  to  pay  his  debts 
with  gold  and  silver  produced  by  "  the  stone."  Notwithstanding  this,  however,  gold 
rose ;  the  additional  price  procured  gold  faster  than  "  the  stone,"  and  a  new  issue  of 
nobles  took  place  —  fifty  to  the  pound  weight.  Shortly  this  proportion  was  changed, 
and  then  forty-five  were  issued  to  the  pound.  The  angels  and  half-angels,  a  new  coin, 
having  the  archangel  Michael  piercing  a  dragon  with  a  spear,  on  the  reverse  a  ship 
with  a  large  cross  for  a  mast,  made  their  appearance.  There  is  no  record  of  Edward  V. 
having  done  anything  in  the  way  of  coinage.  Richard  III.  issued  a  considerable 
coinage,  similar  to  that  of  his  predecessors. 

Coins  of  the  English  Sovereigns.  Henry  VIL,  1485  to  1509. — The  eighteenth 
year  of  this  reign  was  marked  by  an  entirely  new  coinage;  for  the  first  time,  some 
attention  was  directed  to  the  artistic  execution  of  silver  coins.  The  shield  for  the 
royal  arms  was  now  first  adopted  for  the  reverse.  This  was  the  most  florid  and  deco- 
rative period  of  inediaBval  art,  and  it  is  not  surprising  that  the  coinage  should  partake 
of  it;  hence  the  rich  device  of  the  great  seals  was  transferred  to  the  "sovereign,"  the 
principal  gold  coin  of  this  reign.  The  shilling,  also,  made  its  appearance,  and,  in  the  new 
coinage,  groats,  half-groats,  and  pennies,  were  minted ;  but  the  great  feature  was  the 
issue  of  the  gold  royal,  or  royal,  twenty-two  and  a  half  such  pieces  to  be  coined  out  of 
the  pound  weight.  Tower. 

Henry  VIII.,  1509  to  1547.  —  In  this  reign,  the  penny  was  reduced  to  ten  grains, 
and  other  silver  coins  in  proportion.  The  gold  coinage  was  debased  to  make  it  accord 
in  value  with  the  coins  of  the  continent — the  old  sovereigns  to  pass  for  22s.,  and  after- 
wards for  22s.  Qd.  St.  George  and  the  Dragon  formed  the  type  of  the  obverse  of  the 
nohle  issued  and  called  the  George  noble  —  a  device  not  repeated  till  adopted  by 
George  III.,  as  the  reverse  of  the  sovereigns  and  the  silver  five-shilling  pieces.  The 
angel  was  still  coined,  and  crowns  and  half-crowns  of  gold  were  now  added  for  the  first 
time.     In  this  reign,  the  pound  Troy  superseded  the  pound  Tower,  in  the  mint,  and 


20  INTRODUCTION. 

the  standard  of  gold  was  settled,  which  has  ever  since  been  termed  crown  gold.  It 
was  debased  in  the  latter  years  of  the  reign ;  but  the  standard,  termed  crown  gold,  was 
22  carats  fine  to  2  carats  alloy.  In  the  thirty-sixth  year  of  this  reign,  pieces  of  the 
denomination  of  sixpence,  threepence,  and  three-half-pence,  were  first  struck  in  Ire- 
land, similar  to  the  English  coinage. 

Edward  YI.,  1547  to  1553. — Under  this  king,  no  change  worth  noticing. 

Mary,  1553  to  1558,  declared  her  intention  of  restoring  the  old  standard  in  the 
silver  coinage,  11  oz.  2  dwt.  fine,  and  18  dwt.  alloy;  but,  instead  of  that,  the  coinage 
fell  1  dwt.  lower  than  the  last  of  Edward  VI.  Sovereigns  were  issued,  to  be  current 
at  30s. ;  half-sovereigns,  to  be  called  ryals  of  gold,  at  15s. ;  the  angel  to  be  current  at 
10s.,  and  the  half-angel  at  5s.  Shillings,  groats,  half-groats,  and  pennies  were  struck 
for  Ireland. 

Elizabeth,  1558  to  1602.  —  The  complete  restoration  of  the  integrity  of  the  cur- 
rency is  due  to  her.  She  ascertained  the  amount  of  silver  in  the  base  money,  and 
caused  it  to  be  stamped  and  to  pass  for  its  true  value  —  a  loss  to  the  nation  and  a  gain 
to  the  government,  which  received  back  at  2hd.  what  was  issued  for  12d.  She  after- 
wards produced  a  coinage  scrupulously  corresponding  in  weight  and  purity  with  its 
nominal  value,  excepting  the  just  rate  of  profit  or  seignorage.  The  great  event  of  the 
coinage  of  this  period,  was  the  temporary  introduction  of  the  mill  and  screw,  instead 
of  the  hammer  and  punch,  by  which  coins,  in  their  mechanical  production,  were  much 
improved.  The  regularity  of  the  process,  combined  with  placing  the  date  on  the  coins,  . 
resulted  in  the  discontinuance  of  the  mint-marks.  It  is  said,  the  originator  and  maker 
of  milled  money  was  one  Philip  Mastrelle,  a  Frenchman,  who  finally  got  to  counter- 
feiting, was  convicted  and  executed  at  Tyburn  on  the  27th  of  January,  1569.  In 
1601  and  1602,  very  handsome  half-crowns  were  issued.  During  this  reign,  there  were 
coined  of  silver,  including  the  base  money  of  Ireland,  £4,718,579  2s.  Sid. ;  of  gold, 
£440,552  8s.  9ld.  Copper  pence  and  half-pence,  the  first  struck  by  a  British  sove- 
reign, were  issued  in  Ireland  in  1601. 

Coinage  of  Scotland  before  the  Union. — The  earliest  coins  attributed  to  Scotland 
were  those  of  William  the  Lion,  A.  d.  1165.  A  few  coins  have  been  attributed  to 
princes  of  the  Hebrides,  which  are  not  of  earlier  date  than  the  eleventh  century ;  to 
Donald  VIII.  A.  d.  1093,  to  Alexander  I.  1107,  and  to  Alexander  II.  and  III.— all 
of  very  rude  execution.  Those  of  Baliol  and  Bruce  are  in  some  respects  inferior  to  the 
English  contemporary  coinage.  Coins  were  issued  by  Robert  II.  of  a  national  character 
— the  arms  of  Scotland  on  the  obverse,  and  St.  Andrew  and  the  Cross  on  the  reverse ; 
by  David  II.,  in  whose  reign  the  first  gold  coinage  was  issued  —  A.  d.  1371  —  in 
imitation  of  the  nobles  of  Edward  III.,  difiering  only  in  the  substitution  of  the  arms  of 


INTRODUCTION.  21 

Scotland  for  those  of  England  on  the  shield,  and  the  name  and  titles  of  the  Scottish 
king  in  the  legend;  Robert  III.,  James  Land  II. — 1390  to  1460  —  issued  similar 
coins  to  those  of  Robert  II.  The  silver  coins  of  James  I.,  II.,  and  III.,  were  like  those 
of  preceding  reigns,  very  closely  copied  from  the  English.  Billon  coins  were  issued, 
and  attributed  to  Robert  III.  These  base  coins  were  pennies,  and  afterwards,  when 
still  baser  coins  were  issued,  they  were  termed  "  white  pennies,"  to  distinguish  them 
from  the  baser,  or  "  black  pennies."  In  the  reign  of  James  IV.,  the  types  of  the 
coinage  were  modified,  he  issued  a  groat  of  equal  weight  of  the  English,  which  was 
ordered  to  pass  for  14  pennies  Scotch,  also  a  gold  coin  with  a  new  type,  of  which  there 
were  two  or  three  sizes  —  the  king  armed  on  a  galloping  horse  on  the  obverse. 
James  V.  issued  coins  of  gold  to  pass  for  20s.,  and  also  gold  pennies  of  several  kinds ; 
but  the  finest  coin  of  his  reign  is  the  gold  "  bonnet  piece,"  so  called  from  cap  or  heret^ 
termed  in  Scotland  a  bonnet  which  the  king  wears.  Of  this  piece  there  were  two- 
third  and  one-third  pieces  issued  at  the  same  time. 

Mary  — 1542  to  1587  —  issued  the  testoon,  35.  Scotch,  and  also  the  half-testoon. 
During  her  union  with  Darnley,  the  fine  large  silver  royal  was  struck,  and  the  twenty 
and  ten  shilling  pieces.  The  bawbees  —  half-penny  —  of  Mary,  as  they  were  styled, 
were  issued  in  the  following  reign.  The  gold  coins  issued  were  numerous,  and  among 
them  was  the  royal,  one  of  the  best  wrought  coins  of  her  reign. 

James  VI.,  1587  to  1625. —  The  first  silver  coins  of  this  reign  were  issued  by 
authority  of  the  Lord  Regent.  They  were  of  thirty,  twenty,  and  ten  shillings. 
Various  other  moneys  of  silver  were  coined,  among  which  was  the  two-mark  piece. 
LTp  to  this  time,  the  arms  of  Scotland  crowned,  &c.,  formed  the  type  of  the  obverse  of 
the  silver  coinage  of  this  reign ;  but  in  1582,  forty,  thirty,  twenty,  and  ten  shilling 
pieces  were  issued,  bearing  the  king's  portrait  on  the  obverse ;  the  balance-mark  and 
half-mark  were  next  coined.  His  gold  coinage  was  large ;  among  it,  the  "  Sceptre" 
being  a  fine  large  coin  of  the  size  of  a  double  English  sovereign. 

Scotland  had  been  merged  in  the  "United  Kingdom,"  &c.  —  James  I. — 1602  to 
1625  —  issued  crowns,  half-crowns,  shillings,  half-shillings,  pieces  of  two  pennies, 
pennies,  and  half-pennies.  Subsequently,  the  term  Great  Britain  for  the  United 
Kingdom  was  adopted  in  the  coinage.  The  shillings  bore  the  king's  bust  instead  of  the 
figure  on  horseback  ;  the  two-penny  pieces  had  a  rose  on  one  side,  and  a  thistle  crowned 
on  the  other ;  the  pennies  had  the  rose  and  the  thistle  without  the  crown,  and  the 
half-pennies  the  same,  without  mottoes.  The  first  gold  coins  of  this  reign  were  the 
sovereigns  and  half-sovereigns,  having  the  king  in  armor,  holding  the  orb  and  sceptre. 
The  pound  weight  of  gold,  23  J  carats  fine,  and  one-half  carat  alloy,  was  next  coined 
into  27  rose-rials  of  30s.  each,  or  54  spurrials  of  15s.  each.     The  first  gold  coinage  of 


22  INTRODUCTION. 

James  was  of  the  same  standard  as  that  of  the  last  of  Elizabeth  —  the  pound  weight 
of  gold,  22  carats  fine  and  2  of  alloy,  to  make  thirty-three  sovereigns  and  a  half  of 
20s.  each.  Next,  the  pound  weight  of  the  same  gold  was  coined  into  thirty-seven 
units  of  20s.  each,  and  a  thistle  crown  of  four  shillings,  because  the  English  gold  coin  had 
long  been  of  more  value  than  those  of  other  nations,  and  was  exported  for  melting,  from 
the  true  proportion  of  the  relative  value  of  gold  and  silver  not  having  been  properly 
understood  in  England.  The  Irish  coinage  received  attention  during  this  reign,  and 
steps  were  taken  to  restore  its  intrinsic  value  and  purity.  Shillings  and  sixpences  9  oz, 
fine,  to  3  oz.  alloy,  were  issued ;  the  base  money  of  the  previous  reign  being  ordered 
to  be  received  at  one-third  of  its  original  value  —  the  shilling  for  fourpence,  &c.  They 
were  subsequently  reduced  to  one-fourth.  The  Irish  sixpences  and  shillings  bore  the 
portrait  of  James  in  armor,  same  as  the  English  shillings,  and  on  the  reverse  the  Irish 
harp  crowned.     Copper  farthings  were  issued  for  Ireland  as  well  as  England. 

Charles  I.,  1625  to  1649. — A  coinage  was  soon  issued  in  this  reign,  of  the  same 

weight  and  purity  as  that  of  the  last  —  71  grains  to  the  silver  penny,  which  had  been 

eight  grains  in  the  beginning  of  the  reign  of  Elizabeth,  but  which  was  reduced  to  the 

above  weight  by   her.     Notwithstanding  the  waste  of  resources  in   the  civil  wars 

during  this  reign,  no  debasement  in  the  coinage  took  place ;  the  very  rudest  of  the 

coins  of  Charles,  and  even  his  siege-pieces,  being  of  the  proper  purity  and  weight.     The 

first  silver  coins  of  this  reign  were  of  the  same  denomination  and  value  as  those  of 

James,  viz. :    crowns,  half-crowns,  shillings,    half-shillings,    two-pences,  pennies,  and 

half-pennies.     The  shillings  and  sixpences  represent  the  king  in  the  dress  of  the  day. 

First,  the  stiff  ruff  like  that  of  the  reigns  of  Elizabeth  and  James,  then  in  a  limber  or 

falling  one,  and,  lastly,  in  a  simple  falling  collar  edged  with  lace,  as  he  is  seen  in  most 

portraits  by  Van  Dyke.     On  some  of  his  pieces  he  appears  in  his  parliamentary  robes. 

The  crowns  and  half-crowns  have  the  king  pretty  generally  on  horseback,  in  armor. 

None  of  the  pieces  coined  in  the  Tower  were  dated,  but  the  mint-marks  afford  sure 

indications  of  the  dates.     To  January,  1625,  they  are  marked  with  the  trefoil;  to 

January,  1626,  with  the  fleur  de  lis,  and  so  on.     This  refers  to  the  London  coinage ; 

but  in  his  reign  there  were  extensive  coinages  of  silver  in  various  parts  of  the  kingdom. 

The  coins  of  the  York  Mint  are  beautifully  executed,  and  have  a  lion  passant  guardant 

for  mint-mark,  also  the  word   "  Ebor,"  York.     It  is  supposed  the  York   Mint  was 

established  when  Stafford  was  President  of  the  North,  and  some  money  was  probably 

coined  when  the  king  was  there,  during  his  magnificent  progress  to  Scotland.     There 

was  also  a  permanent  mint  at  Aberystwith,  for  refining  and  coining  the  silver  produced 

from  the  Welsh  lead  mines.     The  coins  of  this  mint  bear  the  Welsh  feathers.     The 

coins  of  this  reign,  milled  at  the  edge,  were  produced  by  the  mill  and  screw,  under  the 


INTRODUCTION.  23 

direction  of  Nicholas  Briot,  who  had  been  chief  engraver  of  French  moneys.  He  also 
coined  money  for  Charles  I.,  for  Scotland.  He  subsequently  returned  to  France,  but 
left  in  disgust,  in  consequence  of  some  regulations  that  displeased  him.  His  return  to 
France  at  the  time  prevented  the  permanent  establishment  of  the  mill  and  screw. 

The  king,  1642,  removed  to  Shrewsbury,  when  the  Master  of  the  Mint,  Mr.  Bushell, 
was  ordered  to  join  him,  and  money  was  coined  there.  After  the  defeat  of  Edgehill, 
the  king  removed  the  mint  of  Aberystwith  to  Oxford,  to  coin  there,  in  the  New-Inn 
Hall,  under  the  direction  of  Mr.  Bushell  and  Sir  William  Parkhurst,  all  the  remaining 
plate  of  the  colleges  —  a  large  loan  having  been  previously  made  to  him  in  1642,  while 
he  was  at  Nottingham,  by  the  Universities.  In  this  mint  a  large  quantity  was  coined 
of  both  gold  and  silver.  The  silver,  twenty  and  ten  shilling  pieces,  are  peculiar  to  this 
mint,  and  to  this  period,  for  no  other  such  pieces  occur  in  the  annals  of  the  English 
coinage.  The  best  executed  of  these  pieces  have  the  king  on  horseback,  crowned  and 
in  armor,  the  horse  trampling  upon  arms  and  trophies,  surrounded  by  the  usual  titles ; 
the  reverse  has  the  motto  "  Exurgat  Deus,"  &c.,  with  "  Relig.  prot.  leg.  aug.  liber,  par.," 
dated  1644 ;  alluding  to  his  declaration  at  the  breaking  out  of  the  war,  that  he  would 
protect  "the  Protestant  religion,  the  laws  and  liberties  of  his  subjects,  and  the 
privileges  of  Parliament." 

This  coining  down  the  plate  of  the  colleges,  caused  the  barbarous  destruction  of 
many  rare  and  interesting  relics  of  the  highest  antiquity ;  but  such  are  the  inevitable 
consequences  of  civil  war;  for  in  1644,  the  Commons,  House  of  Parliament,  with  equal 
recklessness,  ordered  all  the  king's  plate  in  the  Tower  to  be  melted  down  and  coined, 
notwithstanding  a  remonstrance  from  the  Lords,  alleging  that  the  curious  workmanship 
of  the  ancient  pieces  was  worth  more  than  the  metal. 

On  many  occasions,  during  the  disastrous  fortunes  of  the  king,  his  partizans  were 
under  the  necessity  of  striking  off  money  in  a  rude  manner,  by  coining  down  their  own 
plate  for  the  relief  of  the  soldiers.  By  which  course,  as  many  magnificent  family,  as 
national,  monuments  of  arts,  perished.  The  first  examples  of  this  kind  of  money  were 
coined  at  Dublin ;  they  were  merely  weighed  pieces  of  plate,  simply  stamped  with 
numerals  to  denote  their  value  —  some  having  on  the  obverse,  C.  R.  under  a  crown. 
In  1645,  when  Carlisle  was  defended  by  Sir  Thomas  Glenham  for  the  king,  he  coined 
down  plate  into  shillings,  &c.,  with  the  king's  head  very  rudely  executed.  Some  of 
these  siege  pieces  are  stamped  with  a  castle,  and  numerals  to  denote  their  value ;  for 
instance,  those  struck  during  the  siege  of  the  Castle  of  Scarborough.  During  the 
defence  of  Pontefract  Castle,  coin  were  stamped  there  with  the  motto,  "  Dum  spiro 
spero."  This  place  was  defended  seven  weeks  after  the  execution  of  the  king,  by 
Colonel  John  Morris;  and  after  that  event,  this  staunch  royalist  struck  the  coin  he 


24  ,  INTRODUCTION. 

issued  in  the  name  of  Charles  II.  The  shillings  so  struck  are  of  an  octagonal  shape, 
with  "Carlos  Secundus,  1648,"  round  the  figure  of  the  castle,  and  the  reverse  had, 
"  Mortem  patris  pro  filio."  Of  these  irregular  coins  there  was  a  great  variety,  both  of 
gold  and  silver. 

The  first  Scottish  coinage  in  this  reign  consisted  of  crowns  and  half-crowns.  But 
the  pieces  coined  by  Briot,  who  was  sent  there  for  that  purpose,  were  surpassingly  well 
executed ;  they  consisted  of  crowns,  half-crowns,  shillings,  and  sixpences.  Some  coins 
were  also  issued  of  a  more  specially  Scottish  character  —  small  silver  pieces,  size  of  an 
English  penny,  but  of  the  value  of  twenty  Scottish  pence,  having  the  king's  head  and 
XX.  on  the  obverse,  and  the  crowned  thistle  on  the  reverse ; '  also  two-shilling  pieces, 
Scotch,  and  the  noble  or  half-mark,  with  the  head  and  title  as  usual  on  the  obverse, 
and  the  arms  of  Scotland,  legend,  &c.,  on  the  reverse,  with  ^i.  to  denote  the  value  — 
6s.  Sd.  Scottish  money.     All  these  coins  were  the  work  of  Briot. 

It  was  ordered  in  this  reign  that  the  name,  Irish  money,  should  be  abolished,  and 
that  thereafter  all  accounts  should  be  kept  in  Sterling  or  English  money.  No  silver 
money  was  issued  in  regular  form  for  Ireland  by  Charles  I. ;  but  his  troubles  induced 
the  irregular  coinage  struck  in  Dublin. 

The  gold  coinage  of  this  reign  was  not  various.  The  fine  old  sovereigns  or  ryals, 
and  the  nobles,  were  abandoned  soon  after  the  beginning  of  the  reign,  and  a  small 
coinage  of  angels  was  issued.  The  principal  coins  in  the  early  part  of  the  reign  were 
the  units  or  broad  pieces  of  20s.  each,  with  halves  and  quarters;  the  gold  pieces  struck 
at  Oxford  were  £S,  £1,  and  10s.  There  was  an  issue  of  sceptres  in  Scotland,  coined 
for  .£12  pieces,  Scotch,  but  passed  on  account  of  their  weight  at  £13.  13s.;  also 
crowns,  half-crowns,  &c. 

The  Commonwealth  — 1648  to  1660  —  with  Cromwell  at  its  head,  proceeded  at  once 
to  make  great  changes  in  the  coinage.  The  royal  arms  were  thrown  aside,  and  the 
simple  cross  of  St.  George,  as  a  suitable  badge  for  Puritanical  England,  was  adopted. 
It  was  placed  within  a  palm  and  an  olive  branch,  and  had  for  legend,  in  good  plain 
English,  "The  Commonwealth  of  England."  On  the  reverse  were  two  joined  shields, 
one  having  the  cross  of  St.  George,  the  other  the  harp  of  Ireland,  and  the  motto  also 
in  English,  "God  with  us,"  and  the  date;  that  of  the  first  issued  being  1649.  The 
issue  consisted  of  crowns,  half-crowns,  shillings,  half-shillings,  and  pieces  of  two-pence, 
a  penny,  and  half-penny.     The  smaller  pieces  had  no  mottoes. 

Pierre  Blondeau,  a  Frenchman,  who  had  carried  to  perfection  the  stamping  of  coin 
by  the  mill  and  screw,  was  invited  to  England.  His  first  pattern  half-crown  bore  on 
the  edge,  "Truth  and  Peace,"  1651,  Petrus  Blondeus ;  another,  "In  the  third  year 
of  freedom,  by  God's  blessing  restored."     The  established  rival  workers  in  the  mint 


INTRODUCTION.  25 

sent  in  rival  patterns ;  one  with  the  double  shield,  supported  by  winged  figures,  with 
the  motto,  "  Guarded  by  Angels."  The  opposition  finally  frustrated  the  plans  of 
Blondeau.  The  screw  process  was,  however,  adopted  without  Blondeau's  immediate  aid, 
who  was  thus  shabbily  treated  by  the  new  saints.  In  the  latter  part  of  the  protectorate, 
Cromwell  issued  coins  bearing  his  bust,  which  were  laureated,  with  "  OLIVAR.  D.  G. 
R.  P.  Ang.  Sco.  ET  HIB.  ETC.  PRO."  Oliver,  protector  of  the  Republic  of  England, 
Ireland,  and  Scotland,  and  substituting  "Ect."  for  France.  The  gold  coins  bore  the 
same  devices  and  mottoes  as  the  silver  coins,  and  were  simply  20s.,  10s.,  and  5s.  pieces. 
The  silver  standard  adopted  by  the  Commonwealth  was  11  oz.  2  dwt.  fine,  and  18  dwt. 
alloy.  No  coins  were  struck  in  Scotland.  In  Ireland,  as  in  England,  great  numbers 
of  town  tokens  were  struck  off  and  circulated. 

Charles  II.,  1660  to  1684.  —  On  his  accession  to  the  throne,  silver  coins,  from  half- 
crowns  downwards,  except  groats  and  quarter-shillings,  which  soon  followed,  were 
issued.  They  were  struck  like  the, earliest  of  his  father's  coins,  with  the  view  of 
restoring  the  ancient  monarchical  feeling,  with  the  old  shield,  traversed  by  the  cross, 
Jleurie,  and  the  same  mottoes.  The  new  improvement  of  the  mill  and  screw,  also, 
being  abandoned,  the  coins  were  again  produced  by  the  old  process  of  the  hammer. 
This  prejudice  against  an  important  improvement  was  of  short  duration;  for,  in  1662, 
Peter  Blondeau  was  again  employed  to  direct  the  mint,  upon  the  new  principle  of  the 
mill  and  screw. 

Great  competition  arose,  at  this  time,  between  the  celebrated  Simon,  who  had 
engraved  the  dies  for  the  Protector's  last  coins,  and  John  Roeter,  of  Antwerp,  which 
was  unfairly  decided  in  favor  of  the  latter.  Simon  afterwards  produced  a  pattern- 
crown,  exquisitely  engraved.  On  the  edge  of  this  famous  coin  is  inscribed  his  petition 
to  the  king,  against  the  previous  unjust  decision  in  favor  of  his  opponent,  which  was 
unheeded.  The  petition  is,  "  Thomas  Simon  most  humbly  prays  your  Majesty  to 
compare  this,  his  tryal  piece,  with  the  Dutch,  and  if  more  truly  drawn  and  embossed, 
more  gracefully  ordered,  and  more  accurately  engraven,  to  relieve  him."  After  this, 
it  is  said,  he  was  discharged  from  the  mint;  and,  we  may  add,  that  he  had  been 
probably  a  very  ardent  supporter  of  Cromwell. 

In  1663,  the  first  milled  coinage  took  place,  consisting  of  crowns,  half-crowns,  and 
shillings.  In  Ireland,  no  silver  money  was  issued  in  this  reign,  except  crowns  and 
half-crowns,  irregularly  formed,  which  came  under  the  head  of  money  of  necessity, 
rather  than  of  that  of  regular  coinage. 

The  gold  coins  were  not  various  in  this  reign.  In  1664,  a  gold  coinage  by  the  new 
process  was  issued.  This  coinage  consisted  of  £5  pieces,  and  forty  and  twenty 
shilling  pieces;  the  latter  called  " guineas,"  from  being  made  of  gold  brought  from 
4 


26  INTRODUCTIONS^. 

Guinea;  there  were  also  half-guineas.     The  term  guinea,  for  a  twenty-shilling  piece, 
continued  down  to  the  reign  of  George  III.     The  English  gold  coins  being  still  above 
the  value  of  other  nations,  the  nominal  value,  and  the  old  unit  of  205.,  was  raised  to 
22s.,  and  other  coins  in  proportion.     In  1670,  the  weight  of  the  gold  coins  was  again 
reduced,  the  pound  of  gold — 22  carats  fine — being  coined  into  £44  10s.     Copper  was 
first  issued  in  bulk  in  this  reign.     As  early  as  the  reign  of  Henry  IV.,  V.,  and  VI., 
the  black  or  base  money  of  the  continent  circulated  in  England.     These  pieces  were 
known  as  "Abbey  pieces."      In  the  reign  of  Henry  VIII.,  or  even  earlier,  many 
traders,  for  want  of  small  change,  coined  for  themselves  leaden  tokens,  to  pass  as  half- 
pennies and  farthings ;  but  as  these  rested  upon  the  personal  liability  of  those  issuing 
them,  great  loss  was  caused  to  the  poor.    In  order  to  put  a  stop  to  this  kind  of  coinage, 
it  was  proposed  to  Elizabeth  to  issue  a  small  copper  coinage.     About  this  time  — 
1594  —  the  city  of  Bristol  struck  copper  farthings,  by  authority,  and,  afterwards,  some 
other  towns  were  allowed  to  do  the  same.     In  the  reign  of  James  I.,  in  order  to  put  a 
stop  to  these  town  and  private  tokens,  it  was  determined  to  issue  a  small  copper  cur- 
rency.    The  royal  repugnance  to  it  was  so  great,  however,  that  it  was  not  coined  at 
the  royal  mints ;  but  patents  were  granted  to  private  persons,  the  first  being  to  Lord 
Hamilton.     These  copper  farthings  bore,  on  the  reverse,  a  Jiarp,  which  shows  they 
were  intended  chiefly  for  Ireland  —  the  destination  of  all  discreditable  coin  —  though 
they  were,  by  royal  proclamation,  current  in  England.     They  were,  also,  issued  by 
Charles  I.  and  II.,  and  have  become  a  permanent  currency.     After  the  Revolution,  in 
1688,  a  proclamation  was  issued  by  James,  in  Ireland,  for  coining  sixpences   and 
shillings  of  mixed  metal.     They  were  made  from  old  pieces  of  ordnance,  and  known 
as  the  "  gun-money." 

William  and  Mart,  and  William  III.,  1688  to  1702.  —  The  same  style  of  coinage 
was  continued  at  the  commencement  of  these  reigns.  The  profiles  of  the  king  and 
queen  are  shown,  one  over  the  other,  on  the  obverse  of  all  the  coins,  surrounded  with 
"  Gulielmus  et  Maria  Dei."  The  general  coinage  had  fallen  into  a  bad  state,  but, 
after  the  death  of  the  queen,  in  1695,  the  king,  who  continued  to  reign  by  the  title 
of  William  III.,  determined  to  restore  its  general  character.  A  tax  was  imposed  upon 
dwelling-houses,  to  raise  the  sum  of  £1,200,000,  to  supply  the  deficiency  of  clipped 
money ;  and  to  prevent  delay,  and  to  carry  into  eflect  a  complete  new  coinage,  mints 
were  established  at  York,  Bristol,  Norwich,  Exeter,  and  Chester.  The  new  coinage 
was  completed  in  two  years.  The  pride  of  the  king  upon  this  subject,  and  the  deter- 
mination that  it  should  be  ably  managed,  were  exemplified  by  the  appointment  of  the 
illustrious  Newton  to  the  position  of  Master  of  the  Mint.  Nearly  £7,000,000  of 
silver  money  were  coined  during  the  years  1696  and  1697.     But  the  silver  coinage 


INTRODUCTION.  27 

was  still  insufficient,  and  continued  so  for  twenty  years  afterwards;  for,  in  1717,  in 
the  reign  of  George  I.,  Sir  Isaac  Newton,  who  was  still  in  office,  stated,  in  his  report, 
"  If  silver  money  became  a  little  scarcer,  people  would,  in  a  little  time,  refuse  to  make 
payments  in  silver,  without  a  premium." 

In  Scotland,  in  the  reign  of  William  and  Mary,  sixty,  forty,  twenty,  ten,  and  five 
shilling  pieces  were  coined.  William  III.  duplicated  this  issue.  The  gold  coins  of 
William  and  Mary,  and  William  III.,  consisted  of  £5  and  £2  pieces,  guineas,  and  half- 
guineas.  The  last  Scottish  gold  was  issued  during  the  reign  of  William  III.,  and 
consisted  of  a  small  issue  of  pistoles  and  half-pistoles.  These  pieces  were  about  the 
size  of  guineas  and  half-guineas,  resembling  them  in  type,  and  were  coined  from  gold 
sent  over  from  the  colony  of  Darien  by  the  Scottish  African  company.  Notwith- 
standing all  the  emissions,  the  precious  metals  were  scarce,  and  guineas,  at  one  time, 
rose  to  the  value  of  SOs.  An  enactment  reduced  them,  subsequently,  to  26s.,  and, 
afterwards,  to  225. 

Anne,  1702  to  1714.  —  The  coins  of  this  reign  were  of  the  same  denominations, 
weight,  and  fineness,  as  those  of  the  last.  After  this  reign,  the  English  coins  circulated 
in  Scotland  as  in  England  —  no  difference  of  type  being  made  for  the  former.  During 
the  short  reign  of  Anne,  the  coins  marked  another  epoch  in  the  improvement  of 
English  money.  The  gold  coins  of  Anne  were  £5  and  £2,  guineas  and  half-guineas. 
No  copper  coin  was  issued  in  this  reign,  either  for  England,  Scotland,  or  Ireland. 

George  I,  1714  to  1727.  —  The  coinage  of  this  reign  remained  the  same  in  weight 
and  value  as  the  preceding;  the  bust  of  the  king  was  executed  in  the  conventional 
style  of  the  times,  with  Roman  mantle  and  armor.  The  legend  on  the  obverse  contains 
the  titles  as  well  as  the  name,  with,  for  the  first  time,  as  a  permanent  addition,  "  Fidei 
Defensor,"  "Defender  of  the  Faith,"  abbreviated,  Georgius  D.  C.  M.  BR.  FR.  ET  HIB. 
REX  F.  D.  On  the  reverse,  his  German  titles  appear,  as,  "  Brunsvicensis  et  Lunenber- 
gensis  Dux,  Sacra  Romani  Imperii  Archithesaurius  et  Elector,"  abbreviated,  Brun.  et  L. 
Dux  S.  R.  L.  A.  T.  H.  ET  EL.  His  own  arms  not  being  placed  in  the  centre,  like 
those  of  William  III,,  but  occupying  the  fourth  shield. 

The  copper  coinage  was  much  extended  in  this  reign,  above  £46,000  worth  having 
been  issued  in  1717,  when  the  pound  avoirdupois  was  coined  into  twenty-eight  pence. 

George  II.,  1729  to  1760.  —  No  change  took  place  in  the  weight,  value,  &c.,  of  the 
coinage  during  this  reign.  The  coins  bore  the  titles,  "  GEORGIUS  II.  DEI  GRATIA," 
as  in  the  reign  of  his  father;  on  the  reverse  a  change  took  place  in  the  arrangement 
of  the  titles,  which  stands  thus :  M.  B.  F.  ET  H.  REX  F.  D.  B.  ET  L.  D.  S.  R.  I.  A. 
T.  ET  E.,  being  merely  a  new  abbreviation  of  the  English  titles,  followed  by  a  still 
more  close  abbreviation  of  the  German  ones.     Of  the  gold  coins,  the  quarter-guineas 


28  INTRODUCTION. 

were  omitted  in  this  reign.  The  principal  gold  coins  minted  were  guineas  and  half- 
guineas,  only  a  few  £5  and  £2  pieces  being  struck.  The  guinea  was,  by  proclamation 
in  1737,  raised  to  22s,  9c?.  The  reverse  of  the  gold  coins  was  changed  in  this  reign, 
and  the  old  garnished  shield,  somewhat  varied,  was  adopted  in  place  of  the  four  shields 
disposed  in  a  cross.  This  change  of  arms  did  not  extend  to  silver  coins,  which  were 
continued  as  before.  The  first  coinage  of  copper  half-pence  and  farthings  in  this 
reign  was  under  warrant  of  Queen  Caroline  in  1738,  for  the  time  guardian  of  the 
realm.  There  were  forty-six  half-pence  coined  out  of  the  pound  avoirdupois.  There 
was  also  a  great  quantity  of  false  copper  money  now  put  into  circulation.  Birmingham 
was  the  chief  seat  of  these  illegal  mints,  though  destined  afterwards  to  become  the 
legitimate  seat  of  the  whole  copper  coinage  of  the  country,  in  the  great  works  at  Soho. 
The  copper  coinage  of  George  II.  presents  no  remarkable  features. 

George  III.,  1760  to  1820.  —  This  prince,  in  succeeding  to  the  throne,  did  not 
attempt  to  issue  a  silver  coinage,  although  the  currency  was  limited  in  amount,  and  of 
diminished  value  from  wear  and  tear.  In  1762  and  1763,  £5791  only  were  issued, 
but  of  what  denomination  is  not  stated.  In  this  coinage,  and  until  1787,  one  pound 
of  silver,  of  11  oz.  2  dwt.  fine  to  18  dwt.  alloy,  was  coined  into  sixty-two  shillings.  In 
1780,  a  proposal  was  made,  but  without  success,  to  take  the  coinage  out  of  the  hands 
of  the  sovereign,  abolishing  the  mint  establishment,  and  vesting  the  power  of  coining 
in  the  Bank  of  England.  After  such  a  proposition,  it  seems  almost  incredible  that  no 
serious  issue  of  silver  money  took  place  till  1787,  twenty-seven  years  after  the 
accession  of  the  king,  and  more  than  the  average  length  of  a  long  reign.  1787  was 
marked  by  an  issue  of  £55,459  in  shillings  and  sixpences.  Some  years  afterwards, 
the  bad  condition  of  the  silver  coinage  was  somewhat  alleviated  by  the  sanction  of 
bank  tokens  of  5s.,  &c.,  which  were  well  executed.  They  had  on  the  obverse,  the 
king's  head,  and  on  the  reverse,  the  words  BANK  TOKEN  in  a  wreath  of  oak  and 
bay,  with  the  value.  The  tokens  of  the  Bank  of  Ireland  were  similarly  gotten  up, 
and  they  consisted  of  three-shilling  pieces  and  ten-pences,  resembling  an  English 
shilling.  The  wretched  condition  of  the  national  coinage  was  permitted  to  go  on, 
getting  to  be  gradually  worse  till  1803,  when  the  attempt  was  made  to  patch  up  the 
grievance  by  stamping  Spanish  dollars  for  circulation,  with  such  a  mark  as  is  used  at 
Goldsmith's  Hall  for  stamping  silver  plate.  In  the  following  year,  the  stamp  was 
changed  for  a  small  octagon  containing  the  king's  head;  and  about  the  same  time,  an 
arrangement  was  made  with  Mr.  Boulton,  of  Soho,  to  stamp  the  entire  face  of  the 
dollar  with  a  device  by  means  of  machinery,  the  result  of  the  great  inventions  in  the 
application  of  steam-power  by  Watt. 

In  1798,  Messrs.  Dorrien  &  Co.  endeavored  to  remedy  the  scarcity  of  silver  money 


INTRODUCTION.  29 

to  some  extent,  by  sending  bullion  to  the  Tower  to  be  coined  on  their  own  account, 
according  to  the  act  of  Charles  II.,  "  upon  payment  of  certain  dues."  But  after  it  was 
coined,  the  Government  of  this  unfortunate  period — destined  ever  to  be  obstructive  — 
caused  it  to  be  melted  down,  on  the  plea  that  a  coinage  could  not  be  lawful  without 
a  proclamation ;  so  that  this  attempt  of  private  enterprise  to  remove  the  grievance, 
Vii^s  rendered  futile  through  the  obstinacy  or  stupidity  of  the  Government.  These 
coins  were  dated  1787,  and  only  a  few  specimens  escaped  the  crucible. 

The  gold  coinage  was  not  quite  so  flagrantly  neglected  as  the  silver ;  but,  nevertheless, 
the  issues  were  small  and  insufficient.  In  the  year  of  the  king's  accession  a  gold 
coinage  oc'curred,  and  there  are  guineas  of  every  year  from  1760  to  1774.  In  1770, 
there  was  a  coinage,  when  forty-four  guineas  and  a  half  were  coined  out  of  every 
pound  of  gold,  twenty-two  carats  fine  to  two  carats  of  alloy.  In  1787,  a  new  gold 
coinage  took  place,  and  the  guineas,  known  as  the  "spade  guineas,"  appeared.  They 
were  so  called,  from  the  shield  on  the  reverse,  which  is  in  the  form  of  a  pointed  spade. 

Having  been  relieved,  by  our  own  act,  of  all  dependence  upon  George  III.,  in  1776, 
having  had  our  capabilities  for  self-government  acknowledged  in  1783,  and  having 
adopted  the  Federal  Constitution  in  1787,  we  happily  avoided  the  balance  of  a  reign, 
that  terminated  in  1820. 


PAET  I. 


MEASURE,  WEIGHT,   STANDARD,   STERLING,   COINS, 

AND    COINING. 

We  have  deemed  it  important  to  present  the  following  data,  under  its  proper  heads, 
viz. :  Measure,  Weight,  Standard,  Sterling,  Coins,  and  Coining,  as  being  relevant, 
in  a  work  of  this  kind,  because  bearing,  either  directly  or  indirectly,  upon  the  subject- 
matter  of  the  origin  and  details  of  a  metallic  currency. 

MEASURE. 

Measure,  in  a  commercial  sense,  signifies  the  dimensions  of  anything  bought,  sold, 
or  estimated.  It  is  of  three  kinds,  viz. :  linear,  or  long  measure ;  square,  or  superficial 
measure ;  and  solid,  or  cubic  measure. 

1.  Linear  Measure  is  applied  to  lines ;  as  roads  and  distances  of  all  kinds. 

2.  Square  Measure  is  applied  to  superfices,  having. both  length  and  breadth;  as 
land,  flooring,  &c. 

3.  Solid  Measure  determines  the  contents  of  bodies  that  have  length,  breadth, 
thickness  or  depth ;  as  marble,  timber,  &c. 

Linear  measure  is  the  element  of  all  other  measures.  Square  measure  is  determined 
by  multiplying  length  and  breadth  together;  and  solid  measure,  by  multiplying  length, 
breadth  and  depth  together. 


H 

M 

M 

i;s, 

en 

« 

•1 

CO 

w 

1-1 

K 

60 

•1 

C6 

re 

c 

Scale  of  Sizes,  or  Measure,  of  Medals  and  Coins. 


(30) 


WEIGHT  — STANDARD.  81 

It  is  from  measure  that  weight  is  properly  deduced.  Coins  are  adjusted  by  weight; 
and  imaginary  moneys,  whether  of  account  or  exchange,  are  valued  from  their  esta- 
blished relation  to  coin. 

WEIGHT. 

Weight  may  be  defined  as  a  natural  property  of  matter,  proportioned  to  its  bulk 
and  the  density  of  its  parts.  It  is  determined  by  being  balanced  in  a  scale,  against 
some  known  or  acknowledged  weight,  placed  in  the  opposite  side.  The  following  are 
the  chief  properties  of  weight,  as  demonstrated  by  Sir  Isaac  Newton,  viz. : 

1.  The  weight  of  all  bodies,  at  equal  distances  from  the  centre  of  the  earth,  is  directly 

proportioned  to  the  quantity  of  matter  that  each  contains. 

2.  On  different  parts  of  the  earth's  surface,  the  weight  of  the  same  body  is  different ; 

increasing  from  the  equator  to  the  pole  in  proportion  to  the  sine  of  the  latitude. 

3.  That  the  weight  of  the  same  body,  at  different  distances  from  the  earth,  is  inversely 

as  the  squares  of  the  distances  from  the  centre  of  the  same. 

4.  That,  at  different  distances  within  the  earth,  or  below  its  surface,  the  weight  of  the 

same  body  is  directly  as  is  the  distance  from  the  earth's  centre ;  so  that,  half 
way  toward  the  centre  of  the  earth,  a  body  would  weigh  but  half  as  much  as  at 
the  surface,  and  at  the  exact  centre  it  would  have  no  weight  at  all. 

5.  That  a  body,  immersed  in  a  fluid  which  is  specifically  lighter  than  itself,  loses  so 

much  of  its  weight  as  is  equal  to  the  weight  of  the  quantity  of  the  fluid  displaced. 

STANDARD. 

Standard  signifies  any  measure  or  weight  of  established  authority,  by  which  others 
are  sized  or  adjusted.  It  is  distinguished  as  being  arbitrary,  from  human  sources;  or, 
invariable,  from  nature  or  God.  The  former  is  that  which  is  almost  universally 
adopted,  and  the  latter  is  intended  to  restore  the  former,  if  lost,  and,  hence,  serve  as  a 
model  or  guide  to  new  systems  of  meterology. 

From  the  highly  intrinsic  value  of  the  materials  which  have  been  adopted  for  the 
formation  of  money,  and  from  the  necessity  of  adding  to  them  materials  of  inferior 
worth  for  their  preservation,  has  been  derived  the  practice  of  reducing  such  mixtures 
to  a  fixed  proportion,  which  is  denominated  the  standard,  or  fineness. 

From  the  indefinite  account  which  Caesar  has  left  us  in  relation  to  the  brazen  and 
iron  money  in  use  among  the  ancient  Britons,  no  positive  conclusion  can  be  reached 
relative  to  any  standard  having  been  adopted  by  them,  as  he  has  only  said,  "  They 
adjusted  their  brazen  masses  and  iron  rings  to  a  fixed  weight."  In  1266,  it  was 
enacted  —  51  Edward  III. — "That  an  English  penny,  called  a  sterling  round,  and 


82  STERLING— COINS. 

without  clipping,  shall  weigh  thirty-two  wheat-corns  from  the  middle  of  the  ear; 
twenty  pence  to  make  one  ounce,  twelve  ounces  one  pound,  eight  pounds  one  gallon 
of  wine,  and  eight  gallons  of  wine  one  London  bushel."  Soon  after,  the  weight  of  the 
penny  was  represented  by  metallic  grains,  which  are  supposed  to  have  been  the  same 
as  the  modern  Troy  grains. 

STERLING. 

Though  this  word  is  now  an  established  one,  and  familiar  to  us  in  its  application, 
its  origin  or  derivation  is  considered  by  some  to  be  uncertain  and  unsettled.  The 
opinion  of  writers  relative  to  it  is  various;  but  the  most  probable  is  that  which  deduces 
it  from  the  Easterlings,  who  were  said  to  have  been  expert  refiners  from  the  eastern 
part  of  Germany,  and  who  came  into  England,  and  first  established  the  standard 
properties  of  silver,  viz. :  11  oz.  2  dwt.  fine  silver  and  18  dwt.  alloy.  Ruding  fixes  the 
time  between  the  year  1086,  when  the  great  survey  of  the  kingdom  was  completed  in 
the  reign  of  William  L,  and  the  4th  of  Henry  IL,  A.  D.  1158,  when  it  first  came  into 
use.  Whatever  may  be  the  etymology  of  the  word,  or  the  period  of  its  introduction, 
it  is  certain  that  it  has  been  in  use  all  over  the  world,  as  particularly  designating  the 
money  of  England;  and  it  is  a  marked  feature  in  the  history  of  coinage,  that  the 
fineness  of  silver  money,  expressed  by  the  term  sterling,  has  preserved  its  integrity 
and  the  confidence  of  commercial  nations  uninterruptedly,  from  the  reign  of  Henry  II. 
down  to  the  present  time,  fully  seven  hundred  years. 

COINS. 

Coins  are  pieces  of  metal,  in  shape  round  and  flat,  generally  stamped  by  authority 
of  Government  with  certain  impressions,  designed  to  give  them  a  legal  and,  hence, 
current  value,  and  also  a  guarantee  for  a  particular  weight  and  fineness.  Gold,  silver, 
and  copper,  are  the  most  desirable  metals  for  coins.  Of  all  the  metals,  gold  is  the 
most  valuable,  and  the  most  difficult  of  imitation,  being  remarkable  for  its  rich  color, 
the  beauty  of  its  polish,  and  its  slight  liability  to  change.  It  is  so  malleable,  that  gold 
leaf  can  be  reduced  to  the  thickness  of  the  300-1000  part  of  an  inch,  and  gold  gilding 
to  the  ten-millionth  part  of  the  same.  Silver  follows  next  in  value,  and  can  be  reduced 
to  170-1000  part  of  an  inch  in  thickness;  its  density,  compared  with  that  of  gold, 
being  as  170  to  300,  and  their  specific  gravity  nearly  in  the  same  proportion ;  that  is, 
as  105  to  193.  The  value  of  gold  and  silver,  commercially,  they  being  the  subjects 
of  purchase  and  sale,  is  fluctuating.  At  the  present  day,  15i  oz.  of  silver  are  equal 
to  one  of  gold. 

In  all  regular  governments,  a  standard  for  coins  has  been  fixed  by  law ;  that  is,  a 


COINAGE, 


88 


certain  proportion  between  the  quantity  of  pure  metal  and  alloy.  The  fineness  of 
gold  is  generally  expressed  in  carats  —  twenty-two  of  which  are  of  pure  metal,  and 
two  alloy.  Hence,  the  standard  of  gold  is  said  to  be  twenty-two  carats  fine.  Lately, 
the  gold  and  silver  of  our  own  mint,  and  the  mints  of  most  other  countries,  are 
alloyed  in  the  proportion  of  one  to  ten,  which  seems  to  afford  a  sufficient  degree  of 
resistance  to  abrasion.  The  alloy  of  silver  is  generally  copper,  and  that  of  gold,  both 
silver  and  copper.  In  the  computation  of  the  value  of  coins,  the  alloy  is  not  included. 
In  England,  France,  and  Germany,  the  theory  now  is,  to  dispense  with  the  silver  as 
alloy  in  the  gold  coins,  and  use  copper  only.  In  our  own  country,  to  retain  the 
gold  color,  both  silver  and  copper  are  used,  and  the  proportions  are  —  900  parts  gold, 
25  silver,  and  75  copper  — 1000.  Beside  the  standard  of  fineness  of  coins,  there  is  a 
legal  weight  fixed  "  of  rates  of  coinage" —  a  mint  regulation.  In  the  mint  regulations 
of  most  countries,  there  is  an  allowance  for  deviation  from  the  standard  weights  and 
fineness  of  coins,  which  is  termed  "the  remedy  of  the  mint."  In  some,  the  "remedy" 
is  applied  in  the  weight,  and  in  others,  in  the  fineness.  Sometimes  it  is  made  a 
source  of  emolument,  and  when  the  government  issues  coins  at  a  rate  above  their 
intrinsic  value,  or  the  market  price  of  the  metals,  the  gain  is  called  seignorage,  and 
the  charges  for  mint  expenses  are  denominated  brassage. 


COINAGE. 

MoNEYER  —  "a  reponsible  and  authorized  manufacturer  of  coin" —  appears  to  have 
been  at  one  time  an  important  personage,  and  very  naturally  so 
when  the  art  of  coining  was  so  little  understood.  In  the  33d 
year  of  Henry  II.,  the  moneyers  of  York  were  expressly  ex- 
empted from  the  payment  of  the  donum,  which  was  assessed 
upon  the  population.  In  the  18th  year  of  Henry  III.,  the 
mayor  of  the  city  of  London  was  commanded  not  to  interfere 
wdth  the  liberty  of  the  king's  moneyers,  by  exacting  talliage 
from  them.  The  cut  in  the  margin  represents  a  moneyer  jubilant 
at  the  king's  favor. 

In  less  than  eight  years  thereafter,  this  exemption  or  favor 
to  the  moneyers  was  extended  to  all  the  officers  of  the  mint. 

The  office  of  Cuneator  — from  L.  cuncus,  a  wedge  — or  coiner,  was  held  in  high 
repute,  and  descended  by  inheritance,  even  into  the  female  line;  and  it  was  construed 
80  strictly  as  a  right  or  property,  as  to  be  the  subject  of  alienation  or  transfer.^     In 


'  Doughdale's  Baronage,  vol.  ii.  p.  31, 


3-1 


COINAGE. 


the  18th  year  of  Edward  III.,  the  widow  of  the  former  possessor  of  the  office  sold  it 

to  William  Lord  Talimer,  for  himself  and  his  heirs, 
which  office  he  held  till  his  death,  which  occured  in  the 
4  th  year  of  Richard  II. 

The  mode  of  coining  was  very  rude,  the  means  em- 
ployed being  to  fix  one  die  firmly  into  a  wooden  block, 
the  other  into  a  puncheon,  which,  being  applied  to  the 
prepared  metal,  and  struck  by  hand  with  a  mallet,  made 
the  impression.  This  method  was  probably  coeval  with 
the.  first  regular  attempts  at  coining.    See  Cut. 

The  new  coins  that  made  their  appearance  in  the 
18th  year  of  Edward  I.,  were  made  by  the  following 
process,  viz. :  the  metal  was  cast  into  bars  from  the 
melting-pot ;  these  were  cut  by  shears  into  square  pieces  of  exact  weight ;  then  with 
tongs  and  hammer  they  were  forged  into  a  round  shape;  after  which  they  were 
blanched  by  nealing  or  boiling,  and  afterwards  stamped  or  impressed  with  a  hammer.^ 
The  next  improvement  in  coining  is  best  exhibited  by  the  annexed  cut,  into  the  faces 

of  which  w^ere  inserted  the  obverse  and  reverse 
die.  This  contrivance  was  worked  by  hand, 
with  the  aid  of  a  pulley. 

Though  peculiar,  it  is  nevertheless  true,  that 
no  improvement  of  any  importance  upon  this 
machine  was  made  till  the  power  of  the  screw 
was  applied  to  coinage,  in  their  mint,  about  the 
middle  of  the  sixteenth  century;'  and  which 
was  introduced  into  the  English  mint  about  the 
year  1561,  when  it  was  worked  in  conjunction 
with  the  old  process,  till  the  latter  was  wholly 
abandoned  in  the  14th  year  of  Charles  II.,  1662. 
From  that  time,  till  some  few  years  ago,  only  very  slight  improvements  have  been 
made  in  the  machinery  of  the  English  mint,  which  consisted  of  a  lever,  to  which  the 
upper  die  was  attached,  worked  by  a  fly,  which  forced  it  down  upon  the  stationary  die 
beneath.  This  machine  was  known  by  the  term,  mill  and  screw,  and  was  a  material 
improvement,  in  power,  over  the  hand  and  the  pulley,  as  it  made  the  impression  by  a 
single  application,  and  hence  was  a  great  saving  of  time  and  labor. 


'  Leak,  p.  76 ;  quoting  the  Red-Book. 


*  La  Blanc,  Historiqiie  de  Monnage  France,  p.  68. 


COINAGE.  86 

In  1787,  Mr.  Boulton,  of  France,  invented  a  powerful  machine,  concentrating,  in 
one  operation,  all  the  requirements  of  a  mint ;  such  as  rolling  the  metal,  cutting  the 
blanks,  shaking  them  together  to  wear  down  the  edges,  and  working  at  the  same  time 
any  number  of  stamping  machines,  a  single  movement  of  which  made  a  perfect 
impression  upon  both  faces  of  the  metal,  and  milled  or  stamped  its  edges  —  thus 
forming  a  perfect  coin.* 

The  earliest  specimens  of  milled  money  appeared  in  the  reign  of  Queen  Elizabeth ; 
legends  upon  the  edges  of  coins,  date  from  1651,  as  they  occur  upon  those  made  by 
the  process  of  Blondeau  and  Ramage  at  the  time  of  the  Commonwealth.  This  process 
was  by  impressing  the  letters  upon  the  edge  of  the  coin,  by  enclosing  the  blanks  in  a 
collar  which  contained  the  letters,  of  the  same  diameter  as  the  pieces  to  be  impressed, 
but  of  less  thickness.  The  blank,  thus  placed,  being  struck  with  the  die,  expanded 
under  it,  and  received  the  impression  of  what  might  have  been  placed  in  the  collar, 
which  opened  by  means  of  four  joints,  and  permitted  the  coin  to  escape.  The  operation, 
which  is  known  by  the  name  of  milling,  was  first  applied  to  coins  in  1663,  the  strokes 
having  been  given  at  that  time  at  right  angles  across  the  edge ;  in  1669,  diagonal 
strokes  were  introduced,  but  still  not  meeting  the  requirement  against  counterfeiting, 
angular  strokes  were  substituted  in  1739,  which  increased  the  protection.^ 

In  1685,  however,  the  invention  by  Monsieur  Casting  for  milling,  made  its 
appearance,  and  then  the  impression  given  to  the  edge  of  coins  was  by  passing  them 
between  two  plates  —  one  stationary,  the  other  movable  by  a  pinion  which  worked 
in  teeth  on  the  back  edge  of  the  same.  By  this  process,  one-half  of  the  legend  was 
cut  in  each  of  the  pieces,  so  that  when  the  coins  had  been  impressed  or  engraved  by 
the  movable  plate  to  the  end  of  that  which  was  stationary,  the  impression  upon  the 
edge  of  the  coin  was  complete. 


1  Shaw's  History  of  Staffordshire,  vol.  ii.  p.  118.     See  the  Account  of  the  Mint  at  Soho. 
*  Vallarine's  Observations  on  the  Current  Coin,  p.  17. 


PAET  II. 


ABORIGINAL    COINS,    OR    MONEY. 

All  nations  or  peoples  have  possessed  something  —  relatively  of  more  value  than 
anything  else  —  for  the  acquisition  of  which  they  have  energetically  taxed  their 
faculties.  This,  whatever  it  may  have  been,  whether  a  shell,  a  bead,  a  piece  of  lead, 
silver  or  gold,  has  been  the  standard  or  measure  of  value.  No  matter  how  rude  or 
savage  a  people  may  be,  the  love  of  gain  or  accumulation,  in  some  form,  is  a  predomi- 
nant feature  in  their  character;  and  to  gratify  it,  their  energy  and  ingenuity  have 
been  zealously  exerted.  It  is  not  peculiar  or  strange,  then,  that  the  aborigines  of  this 
continent  should  have  originated  and  used  coins  or  money  as  a  measure  of  value,  or  a 
medium  of  exchange,  in  their  dealings  with  one  another. 

The  earliest  knowledge  we  have  of  aboriginal  coins  or  money  in  this  country,  is 
derived  from  the  evidences  of  it  exhumed  from  the  mounds  that  skirt  the  waters  of 
the  Mississippi  and  its  tributaries.  In  these  mounds  have  been  found  relics  which, 
similar  to  those  of  ancient  Egypt,  as  represented  by  paintings  in  her  tombs,  are  as 
demonstrative  of  the  measure  of  art  and  civilization,  at  the  time  they  were  deposited, 
as  were  the  subjects  of  those  paintings  when  they  were  committed  for  execution  to 
the  hands  of  the  artist. 

The  specimens  of  aboriginal  coins  or  money,  found  in  the  tumuli,  were  composed 
of  lignite,  coal,  bone,  shell,  terra-cotta,  mica,  pearl,  cornelian,  chalcedony,  agate, 
jasper,  native  gold,  silver,  copper,  lead,  and  iron,  which  were  fashioned  into  forms, 
evincing  a  skill  in  art  to  which  the  descendants  of  the  abori";ines  now  surviving;  are 


.Q         l«      .^.^XX.       ..^        ^.V       ^.^        „*.av..*  CX.V.         V>.V.K.V.V.WV.l«X*..^      ^^         »,^.V.         ^K^V^X^qX 


strangers. 


Here  we  find  shells  from  the  sea-side ;  mica  from  the  primitive  formation ;  coal  and 
lignite  from  the  secondary;  gold  and  silver  from  the  Carolinas  —  perhaps  from  Cali- 
fornia ;  native  copper  from  the  shores  of  Lake  Superior ;  lead  from  Missouri,  &c.  &c. ; 
showing,  to  some  extent,  the  intelligence,  energy,  and  communication  with  the  distant 

(30) 


'FLATR/I. 


I.XR,.se„tl,J.      UV    rkl,n.l« 


ABORIGINAL    COINS.  37 

parts  of  our  country,  by  those  who  heaped  up  these  monuments  over  treasures  — 
unwritten  histories  —  for  our  instruction  and  enlightenment. 

Many  of  these  specimens  of  American  aboriginal  art  —  such  as  they  are  —  in  many 
cases  very  rude,  and  in  others  of  very  good  workmanship,  present  a  striking  analogy, 
in  form  and  design,  to  the  ancient  Egyptian;  agreeing,  as  they  do,  in  shape  and 
ornament  with  the  Egyptian  and  Etruscan  relics  exhumed  from  their  sepulchral  homes. 

The  first  medium  of  circulation,  as  money,  among  the  aborigines,  is  believed,  by 
antiquarians,  to  have  been  formed  from  lignite,  coal,  shell,  bones,  and  terra-cotta. 
These  specimens  are  frequently  found  now,  upon  opening  the  small  oblong-oval 
mounds  in  the  valley  of  the  Mississippi.  The  Scripture  injunction,  "to  put  no  money 
in  thy  scrip,"  being  farthest  from  the  practice  of  the  aborigines,  who  supplied  even  the 
dead  with  the  wherewith  for  a  long  journey. 

The  first  specimens  of  this  kind  which  we  —  Thomas  Mitchell,  Esq.,  and  myself— 
met  with,  in  our,  at  that  time,  aboriginal  researches,  were  from  a  small  mound  upon 
the  plantation  of  William  Ferriday,  Esq.,  in  Vidalia,  Concordia  Parish,  Louisiana,  in 
1844.  We  removed  from  around  the  bones  of  a  male  aborigine,  of  very  large  size, 
forty-three  small  pieces  —  round  and  flat  —  of  lignite,  coal,  shell,  and  jasper.  These 
specimens  were  mostly  entire,  but  the  bone  and  shell  crumbled  to  pieces  from  exposure 
to  the  air.  The  lignite  and  coal  pieces  were  of  two  sizes,  which  would  measure,  by 
the  scale  in  this  work,  9  and  6.  They  were  mostly  plain  on  both  sides.  In  two  of 
the  largest,  however,  we  found  rude  figures,  composed  of  lines  and  depressions,  which 
see  in  Plate  I.,  figs.  1  and  2.  Occasionally,  what  are  represented  as  depressions  in 
the  fac-simile  extended  entirely  through  the  piece. 

Judging  from  the  anatomical  conformation  of  the  crania,  we  believe  these  mounds 
to  have  been  the  burial-places  of  the  Tensaw  tribe  of  Indians,  as  the  heads  are  flat- 
tened in  an  upward  or  conical  direction. 

The  next  collection  we  will  describe  was  taken  from  a  small  mound  upon  the 
plantation  of  Charles  Chamberlain,  Esq.,  in  the  same  year,  1844,  located  about  six 
miles  above  Natchez,  Mississippi.  They  were  found  in  a  small  vase,  which  was  ela- 
borately carved  around  the  bulbous  portion  of  it,  filled  with  light-colored  ashes. 
Numerous  vases  of  this  description  are  often  found  placed  near  the  neck  of  a  skeleton. 
These  pieces  are  now  in  our  collection.     See  Plate  I.,  Figs.  3,  4,  5,  and  6. 

A  great  number  of  lignite  and  coal  pieces  were  found,  some  twenty  years  since,  in  a 
small  mound,  on  the  border  of  the  Miami  River,  in  Ohio,  the  largest  of  which  was 
about  the  size  of  our  old  cent,  but  much  thicker.  There  were  two  other  sizes,  which 
were  smaller.  The  largest  of  these  coins,  or  money,  was  perforated  with  sixteen 
small  holes ;  the  faces  of  others  were  indented  with  from  five  to  eight  parallel  lines, 


38  ABORIGINAL    COINS. 

and  on  one  specimen  the  lines  were  crossed,  forming  diamond-shaped  figures.     See 
fac-similes,  Plate  I.,  Figs.  7,  8,  and  9. 

These  specimens  were  taken  to  Cincinnati,  Ohio,  and  distributed  among  the  lovers 
of  the  curious.  Some  few  were  deposited  in  the  Dorfeul  Museum  there,  where  we 
had  the  pleasure  of  examining  them  in  1844,  and  taking  drawings  from  them. 

In  July,  1845,  we  opened  a  small  mound  on  the  plantation 
of  General  Quitman,  situated  on  the  margin  of  the  Mississippi 
River,  eight  miles  above  Natchez.  Near  the  bottom  of  this 
structure,  we  found  a  small  vase,  finely  ornamented,  and  com- 
posed of  an  unusually  fine  material.  The  ornaments  were 
painted  vermilion  color,  relieved  by  a  dark  red,  and  it  contained 
very  fine  white  ashes.  See  figure  in  the  margin. 
Near  this  vase  we  found  two  oval  masses  of  conglomerated  burnt  bones,  mixed  with 
ashes  and  coal.  Breaking  open  these  peculiar  masses,  we  found,  in  the  centre  of  one 
of  them,  a  small  cup  of  coarse  material,  not  ornamented,  and  within  it  a  small  horn- 
stone  model  of  an  axe  or  hatchet,  pierced  at  its  upper  extremity  with  a  hole,  and 
evidently  designed  to  be  suspended  from  the  neck  as  an  ornament  or  symbol  of  war; 
possibly  to  denote  to  the  denizens  of  another  world  that  the  possessor  —  presumed  to 
carry  all  the  buried  paraphernalia  with  him  —  was  a  chief  of  the  first  class.  We  also 
found  four  unfinished  jasper  beads,  two  of  them  partly  drilled  through  the  centre ; 
and  at  the  bottom  of  the  cup  lay  a  coin-like  mass  of  lignite,  the  size  of  a  twenty-five 
cent  piece,  with  rude  figures  upon  both  sides,  and  evidently  designed  for  a  coin  of 
much  value,  being  the  solitary  pecuniary  deposit  or  resource  for  a  long  journey.  See 
fac-simile,  Plate  I.,  Fig.  12. 

A  similar  vase  to  that  previously  described,  was  found  a  short  time  afterwards  in 
the  upper  stratum  of  a  small  mound,  on  the  premises  of  Mrs.  Posthlethwait  at  Natchez, 
Miss.,  containing  ashes  and  a  similar  lignite  coin,  more  elaborately  ornamented.  See 
fac-simile.     Plate  II  Figure  1. 

Such  coins  as  we  have  been  describing,  were  undoubtedly  as  highly  prized  by  their 
aboriginal  possessors,  as  are  those  of  the  present  day  by  us ;  and  they  were,  unquestion- 
ably, as  subservient  to  the  laws  of  value  and  exchange,  as  is  a  more  modern  coinage  now. 
The  coal  specimens  of  coin  or  money  are  quite  as  frequently  found  in  the  mounds 
as  the  lignite,  but  they  are  not  as  well  preserved.  Subjected  to  the  action  of  the  air, 
they  become  very  dry,  soon  become  disintegrated,  and  crumble  to  pieces.  They  are 
also  less  elaborately  carved,  owing  to  the  difference  in  material,  though  the  designs  are 
similar  lines  and  cross-lines,  with  occasionally  an  efiigy  of  a  man  or  bird  upon  them, 
and  on  one  specimen  we  have  seen,  the  extended  hand.     In  shape  and  size  they  also 


PLATE,  II 


X  N' IWrntluil,    Lull    I'IhI.kI.^ 


ABORIGINAL    COINS.  39 

agree  with  the  lignite,  except  in  being  about  double  their  thickness.  We  have  met 
with  several  hundreds  of  specimens  in  our  explorations,  but  have  been  unable  to 
preserve  but  few  of  them,  some  with  figures.  See  fac-similes.  Plate  I,  Figures  10, 
11,  16,  17,  18  and  19. 

The  similarity  of  barbarous  or  semi-barbarous  people  is  much  greater  than  would  be 
supposed,  without  data  or  reflection  upon  the  subject ;  as  the  human  mind  in  its  natural 
condition  seems  to  have  been  directed  by  the  same  impulses,  and  to  have  adopted  the 
same  means  for  the  attainment  of  the  same  ends.  For  we  find  that  what  we  term 
coal-money  among  the  aborigines  of  America,  is  denominated  the  same  by  transatlantic 
antiquarians,  and  is  found  in  the  barrows  or  sepulchres  of  the  ancient  Britons.  The 
Britons  had  also — found  in  the  same  localities — what  was  composed  of  the  Kimmeridge 
clay  of  the  coal  formations,  which  was  strongly  impregnated  with  bitumen.  These 
coins  or  money  are  circular  in  form,  varying  from  one  inch  to  three  inches  in  diameter, 
and  from  an  eighth  to  half  an  inch  in  thickness.  They  appear  to  have  been  wrought 
into  form  with  much  precision,  and  they  exhibit  devices  of  circles  and  angles  turned 
with  much  exactness. 

It  appears  to  be  peculiar  that  the  aborigines  of  America,  and  the  ancient  Egyptians 
and  Britians  should  have  selected  the  sepulchres  of  the  dead  for  the  absolute  depository 
of  representations  of  art,  value,  and  instruction.  Such  is,  nevertheless,  the  truth ;  and 
hence  it  confirms  our  previously  expressed  opinion  of  the  sameness  of  the  human  mind 
in  its  first  efforts  in  the  direction  of  civilization. 

The  opinion  entertained  by  Sir  Richard  Hoare  was,  that  these  pieces  were  used  as 
the  representatives  of  money ;  that  is,  not  for  circulation,  but  as  symbols  of  value,  and 
that  they  were  introduced  into  Briton  by  the  Carthagenians  and  Phoenicians,  who 
traded  with  the  ancient  Britons  for  lead,  tin,  copper,  and  other  metallic  substances. 
This  theory  does  not  appear  to  be  reasonable  to  us,  for  the  reason  that  thfe  very 
materials  of  which  it  is  composed  are  indigenous  to  Briton,  and  that  the  ancient 
Britons  could  have  fashioned  it  themselves,  seeing  that  they  made  tin  and  iron  money; 
and  why  not  money  of  coal  and  clay  ?  See  fac-similes  of  the  coal  money  of  the  ancient 
Britians  which  will  show  its  resemblance  to  that  of  the  aborigines  of  America,  and  for 
which  purpose  we  have  introduced  it  into  Plate  I,  Figures  13,  14  and  15.  Plate  II, 
Figures  3,  9,  and  14.  1 

Bone  Money. —  Some  of  the  specimens  of  this  kind  of  money  are  in  their  composition 
strange  indeed.  They  are  about  the  size  of  an  old  cent,  and  were  wrought  out  of  the 
interior  and  exterior  tables  of  the  human  skull,  also  of  the  bones  of  the  thigh,  the 
scapula  and  patella  of  human  subjects  —  probably,  relics  of  enemies  slain  in  battle, 


40  ABORIGINAL    COINS. 

or  prisoners  subsequently  tortured  at  the  stake,  and  symbols  of  revenge,  the  most 
exalted  virtue  among  the  aborigines. 

This  money  is  also  made  from  the  tusks  and  ribs  of  the  mastodon  gigantium,  the 
enamelled  portion  of  the  teeth  of  the  alligator,  and  from  the  bones  of  the  gar  and 
cat-fish.  Great  quantities  of  the  last  two  named,  which  must  have  been  of  the  least 
valuable  denomination  of  money,  were  found  in  the  mounds;  in  some  instances, 
amounting  in  quantity  to  bushels  —  it  being  the  custom  of  some  of  the  aboriginal 
tribes  to  bury  all  the  treasures  of  a  deceased  with  him.  As  with  other  specimens,  we 
found  them  around  the  necks  of  the  occupants  of  the  mounds,  punctured  and  strung, 
and  also  in  terra-cotta  vases  and  cups. 

Mr.  A.  B.  Tomlinson,  in  a  letter  describing  the  opening  of  the  Grave  Creek  Mound, 
on  the  border  of  the  Ohio  river,  below  Wheeling,  Va.,  says :  "  One  of  the  skeletons 
was  surrounded  by  six  hundred  and  fifty  ivory  pieces,  resembling  button  moles,  and 
varying  in  diameter  from  three  to  five-eighths  of  an  inch,  and  in  thickness,  from 
pasteboard  to  a  fourth  of  an  inch.  In  another  mound,  were  found  upwards  of  seventeen 
hundred  ivory  pieces,  five  hundred  shells  of  the  involute  species,  and  five  copper 
bracelets  that  were  around  the  wrist-bones  of  the  skeleton." 

Shell  Money.  —  The  specimens  of  shell  coins  or  currency,  occur  in  large  quantities 
in  every  aboriginal  mound.  They  are  made  of  shells,  from  the  Unio  or  fresh-water 
clam  up  to  the  huge  sea-conch.  The  pieces  most  common  are  from  small  spiral  shells, 
taken  from  the  fresh-water  lakes  or  streams;  their  colors  are  various,  and  when 
manufactured,  they  make  beautiful  pieces.  We  found  large  quantities  of  the  Venus 
species,  formed  of  the  pearly  portion  of  the  shells,  very  highly  polished,  and  about 
the  size  of  a  twenty-five  cent  piece,  with  eccentric  lines  carved  upon  them,  and  in 
some  cases  figures.  Some  pieces  we  found  were  as  large  as  two  and  a  half  inches  in 
diameter. 

Nothing  more  rational  than  that  an  aborigine  should  give  half  a  dozen  or  more  of 
such  pieces,  as  we  have  been  describing,  for  a  tomahawk,  a  terra-cotta  cup,  or  anything 
else  he  might  want  or  covet;  nor  is  it  strange  that  an  aborigine's  wealth  should  have 
been  estimated  by  such  accumulations  as  this  money  —  the  fruit  of  labor  and  tact  with 
them,  as  is  our  money  with  us. 

Pearls  are  a  fruitful  subject.  A  passage  in  Suetonius  reports  Caesar's  invasion  of 
Britain,  as  incited  by  the  hope  of  finding  pearls.  We  think  the  ambition  of  conquest 
had  much  more  to  do  with  it.  Pliny  informs  us  that  Caesar  dedicated  a  breast-plate 
to  Venus,  ornamented  with  pearls,  which  he  pretended  to  have  found  in  Britain. 
Cleopatra  fed  Anthony  upon  pearls;  yet  with  all  this  true  or  fabulous  account  of  them, 
the  number  would  sink  into  insignificance,  compared  with  the  immense  quantities  that 


vhA'^m.  ill 


I,  N.K..srnll,.-,l.  I. til,     1'hll.iUi' 


/ 


ABORIGINAL    COINS.  41 

greeted  the  eyes  of  De  Soto,  when  he  first  made  his  appearance  among  the  aborigines 
in  the  Valley  of  the  Mississippi.  The  quantities  found  in  the  temples  and  villages, 
as  related  by  Spanish  and  Portuguese  historians,  almost  exceeds  belief. 

Among  the  sepulchral  graves  of  the  aborigines,  the  plow-share  turns  up  human 
relics,  and  also  brings  to  light  large  quantities  of  pearls ;  and  the  broken  vases  at  the 
same  time  disclose  what  were  their  depositories.  The  pearls  found  are  rarely  perfect ; 
alas!  time  and  exposure  to  the  damps  of  the  earth  have  rendered  them  very  fragile, 
and  hence  they  are  easily  peeled  into  lamina,  sometimes,  however,  reaching  a  kernel 
by  this  process,  which  is  sound  and  brilliant.  We  have  a  number  in  our  possession, 
from  which  we  scaled  off  the  lamina,  till  they  became  perfect.  Finding  them  as  we 
have,  carefully  deposited  in  vases  and  mortars  with  the  dead,  we  must  conclude  that 
they  were  among  the  things  of  value,  which  were  exchanged  or  hoarded  by  the 
aborigines,  as  circumstances  or  choice  dictated. 

Terra-Cotta. — This  money  is  formed  from  clay  and  tempered  with  bone,  and  also 
ferruginous  matter.  Some  of  its  varieties  are  of  a  beautiful  red  color,  which,  upon 
analysis,  were  found  to  be  composed  of,  viz. :  silex,  51,  aluminum,  19,  lime,  9,  and 
iron,  21  parts. 

The  devices  upon  these  pieces  are  numerous,  generally  on  one  side,  but  occasionally 
upon  both.  They  consist  of  the  heart,  the  extended  hand,  leg,  birds,  frogs,  snakes, 
and  many  curious  figures  formed  of  lines,  dots,  and  circles. 

The  extended  hand,  as  we  have  illustrated  it  from  the  originals,  frequently  appears, 
according  to  Stephens,  upon  the  bricks  and  stones  found  in  Central  America,  and  upon 
the  dressed  skins  forming  the  robes  of  the  present  Indians,  thus  establishing  an  affinity 
of  ideas  between  the  aborigines  of  the  Isthmus,  and  those  of  the  Valley  of  the 
Mississippi. 

It  is  not  improbable  that  it  was  a  symbol  referring  to  a  Supreme  power,  and  designed 
to  keep  in  constant  remembrance  Deity,  to  which  the  aborigines,  equally  with  the 
Christians  of  more  enlightened  times,  were  disposed  to  defer ;  and  to  whom  their  rude, 
but  natural,  devotion  was  undoubtedly  sincere,  if  not  profound.  See  Plate  III,  Figures 
1,  2,  3,  4,  5,  6,  7,  8,  9,  10,  11,  12,  and  13. 

It  is  a  peculiarity  also,  tjiat  the  extended  hand  was  an  emblem  upon  quadrans,  a 
coin,  among  the  ancient  Romans,  which  was  the  fourth  of  an  as  or  oes ;  the  value  of 
which  was  estimated  with  reference  to  the  denariits,  which  contained  or  was  equal  to 
ten  asses  ;  and  the  as,  four  quadrans.  Thus,  as  the  denarius,  in  the  time  of  our  Saviour, 
was  equal  to  about  seventeen  cents  of  our  money,  the  as  was  equal  to  three  farthings, 
English,  and  the  quadran  being  the  fourth  of  that  sum,  was  a  little  less  in  value  than 
6 


42  ABORIGINAL    COINS. 

a  half  cent.  The  two  mites,  which  the  widow  threw  into  the  Temple  treasury,  were 
of  the  value  of  a  quadran. 

Though,  in  both  the  Roman  and  aboriginal  coins,  the  idea  was  undoubtedly  distinct 
and  original  —  there  having  been  no  communication  between  the  Old  and  the  New 
World  —  the  extended  hand,  as  an  emblem,  might  have  been  designed  to  suggest  open- 
hearted  ness,  liberality,  a  disregard  of  money,  or  grasping  selfishness.  It  might  have 
been  dictated  as  an  emblem  of  confidence  or  afiection ;  or,  as  we  have  imagined,  in 
the  case  of  the  aborigines,  a  deference  to  Deity,  in  connection  with  which,  by  the 
followers  of  the  Saviour,  the  hand  was  symbolized  as  the  "  outstretched  hand,"  "  mighty 
to  save,"  &c.,  or  indicative  of  the  power  which  invites  love  and  confidence,  and  promises 
protection.  Hence,  whether  of  heathen  or  Christian  application,  it  has  much  appro- 
priateness, and  in  such  connection,  is  not  devoid  of  ideal  beauty. 

Stone  Money. — These  specimens  occur  in  great  quantities  in  the  aboriginal  mounds. 
They  are  composed  of  jasper,  quartz,  agate,  chalcedony,  and,  occasionally,  cornelian. 
The  more  common  specimens  found  are  wrought  from  sand-stone  and  slate.  Size  of 
this  kind  of  money,  from  eight  inches  in  diameter  down  to  half  an  inch;  in  many 
instances,  very  highly  polished,  and  occasionally  figured  over  with  hieroglyphics  and 
other  devices.     See  Plate  II,  Figures  2  and  13.     Plate  lY,  Figures  3,  4,  5,  and  16. 

In  opening  the  Grave  Creek  Mound,  previously  referred  to,  a  small  thin  and  flat 
piece  of  sand-stone  was  found.  See  fac-simile  for  form,  size,  and  the  hieroglyphic 
inscription,  Plate  II,  Figure  15. 

Schoolcraft  says :  "  The  characters  are  in  the  ancient  rock  alphabet  of  sixteen  right 
and  acute  angled  single  strokes,  used  by  the  Pelasgi  and  other  Mediterranean  nations, 
and  which  is  the  parent  of  the  modern  Punic  as  well  as  the  Bardic."  See  fac-similes 
of  stone  hatchets,  previously  referred  to,  Plate  II,  Figures  8  and  10.  Darts  of 
chalcedony  and  jasper,  Plate  II,  Figures  4,  5,  11,  and  12. 

The  Lily  Encrinite. —  This  fossil,  belonging  to  the  family  CnVjoicZea,  is  found  iu 
great  numbers  in  the  rocks  of  the  Silurian  system,  upwards,  and  occurs  plentifully  in 
many  of  the  aboriginal  mounds. 

This  animal  petrifaction  is  formed  of  long  jointed  stems,  composed  of  calcareous 
divisions  or  plates  closely  fitting  each  other.  A  single  fossil  of  this  species  contains 
the  enormous  number  of  one  hundred  and  fifty  thousand  pieces;  they  are  generally 
found  separated,  and  it  is  these  divisions  of  the  stems  which  are  denominated 
cntrochites  and  screw-stones;  and,  in  the  north  of  England,  fairy-stones  and  St. 
Cuthbert's  beads. 

In  this  wonderful  result  of  nature,  the  aborigine  had  a  coin  or  currency  properly 
fashioned  and  beautifully  ornamented,  without  the  labor  of  design  or  workmanship, 


!J    HW, 


I.  \  K.is.MliiiJ.  Lrth.  l'liila.l-\ 


ABORIGINAL    COINS.  43 

and  from  the  care  with  which  it  was  preserved,  he  must  have  highly  appreciated  it. 
See  Plate  II,  Figures  6,  7,  16,  17,  18,  and  19. 

Gold  Money. —  Specimens  of  this  money  are  occasionally  found  in  the  form  of  small 
lumps  or  balls  slightly  flattened,  and  irregular  on  their  edges.  Several  have  been  found 
in  Louisiana  and  Mississippi.  In  the  year  1845,  in  company  with  Doctors  Fox  and 
Benbrooks,  we  opened  a  mound  at  old  Fort  Rosalie,  near  Natchez,  and  the  last  named 
gentleman  found  one  of  these  gold  balls,  slightly  flattened,  which  weighed  upwards  of 
two  pennyweights.  A  similar  specimen  of  very  fine  gold  was  found  in  Eoss  county, 
Ohio,  lying  in  the  palm  of  the  hand  of  a  skeleton.  Subsequently,  this  piece  was 
presented  to  Peale's  Museum.     See  fac-simile.     Plate  IV,  Figure  1. 

Another  specimen  was  found  in  Perry  county,  Ohio,  which  was  in  the  possession  of 
Mr.  Charles  Ayres,  of  Cincinnati,  in  1846.  The  circle  of  this  piece  was  irregular,  and 
its  greatest  diameter  was  about  three-fourths  of  an  inch.  The  face  of  this  piece  bore 
two  rude  figures  —  a  man  and  a  bird,  beside  four  foot-prints  of  the  latter.  Both  faces 
of  the  piece  were  alike.     See  fac-simile,  Plate  IV,  Figure  2. 

Two  similar  pieces  of  native  gold,  completely  covered  with  curiously  designed  figures, 
were  found  at  Grave  Creek  Mound.  They  were  sent  to  the  East,  and  perhaps  at  this 
very  time  adorn  some  private  collection  or  cabinet. 

Silver  Money. —  Similarly  shaped  pieces  to  the  gold  are  found  of  native  silver  in 
the  mounds.     Generally  not  so  large  as  the  gold,  but  with  similar  devices. 

Galena  Money. — This  is  found  in  large  quantities  in  and  about  the  small  mounds 
in  the  valley  of  the  Mississippi.  They  are  variously  ornamented ;  some,  with  dots 
and  lines ;  others,  with  curious  hieroglyphic  figures,  while  others  are  entirely  plain. 
See  fac-similes,  Plate  IV.,  Figures  6,  7,  8,  9,  10,  and  11. 

We  have  derived  from  H.  Morton,  Esq.,  now  publishing  a  work  on  the  "  Rosetta 
Stone," — the  Key  to  the  interpretation  of  the  Hieroglyphics  of  Egypt — the  following: 
"  That  the  figure  or  symbol  No.  11,  Plate  IV.,  is  a  sign  of  very  frequent  occurrence  in 
the  Egyptian  sculptures,  paintings,  and  inscriptions.  When  used  as  a  hieroglyphic 
sign,  it  denotes  life,  as  may  be  seen  in  the  5th,  6th,  10th  and  other  lines  of  the  Rosetta 
Stone,  and,  indeed,  in  almost  every  other  hieroglyphic  inscription.  This  is  the  only 
sign  whose  value  has  been  transmitted  to  us  by  tradition.  It  is  frequently  represented 
in  paintings  and  sculptures  as  being  poured  from,  by  two  divinities,  over  the  head  of  a 
lyng,  and  as  held  in  the  left  hand  by  gods  and  goddesses  in  general.  In  the  Coptic 
churches  it  was  frequently  substituted  for  the  cross." 

This  identity  of  the  Egyptian  with  our  own  aborigines  in  originality  and  idea,  opens 
a  wide  field  for  inquiry,  occurring,  as  it  does,  upon  distinct  continents,  which  learned 
and  popular  opinion  has  totally  disconnected  from  the  earliest  periods  of  time.     Con- 


PIiATTi  V. 


XKBosentha/ Lith.  fto/ae/S. 


^^-^fO^A-Ajij,^ 


WAMPUM.  ^  ^L  A  45 

S! 

WAMPUM.  O 


The  use  of  wampum  as  a  currency,  or  subject  of  barter  and  exchange,  among  the 
aborigines  upon  the  northern  portion  of  this  continent,  extends  back  to  a  very  remote 
period,  the  antiquity  of  which  we  shall  not  attempt  to  determine.  It  was,  probably, 
the  first  idea  of  an  arbitrary  standard  of  values  suggested  to  the  mind  of  the  Indian 
in  the  portion  of  country  now  occupied  by  the  middle  and  Eastern  States  of  this  Union 
and  the  Canadas.  In  another  part  of  this  work,  frequent  allusion  is  made  to  the 
wampum ;  and  we  there  find  that  the  first  settlers  in  this  part  of  the  continent,  for 
want  of  something  better  —  which  could  hardly  have  been  suggested  at  that  time,  if 
we  decide  from  the  results  —  soon  accommodated  themselves  to  the  currency  of  the 
Indian.  It  soon  found  its  way  into  the  colonial  exchequers,  those  of  private  institutions, 
and  private  hands  —  its  arbitrary  value  being  admitted  and  sustained  for  many  years. 

The  primitiv^e  wampum  consisted  of  strings  of  small  spiral  fresh-water  shells.  As 
soon  as  the  Dutch  became  fairly  located  in  "Manhadoes"  —  New  York  —  they  caught 
the  idea  of  wampum,  and  set  about  improving  its  manufacture  by  rendering  it  more 
convenient  and  beautiful.  The  beads,  or  constituents  of  wampum,  were  purple  and 
white,  about  a  quarter  of  an  inch  in  length,  and  an  eighth  of  an  inch  in  diameter,  and 
perforated  lengthwise,  so  as  to  be  conveniently  strung.  The  white  bead  was  manu- 
factured from  the  sea-conch,  and  the  purple  from  the  muscle-shell,  though  not  confined 
to  those  shells. 

In  the  history  of  that  portion  of  the  Indians  to  which  we  have  alluded,  wampum 
became  an  "institution,"  being  the  medium  of  love,  trade,  religious  ceremonies, 
diplomacy,  and  war.  They  were  woven  into  belts,  used  in  strings,  and  singly,  and 
were  arranged,  by  the  disposition  of  colors,  into  figures,  symbolizing  objects,  events, 
and  acts.     In  fact,  they  were  the  chronicles  of  the  Indian. 

So  far  as  they  were  a  currency,  they  enabled  the  Dutch  settlers  to  pile  up  fortunes 
of  peltry ;  and,  could  we  look  into  the  past,  we  should,  undoubtedly,  see  the  foundation 
of  many  a  Knickerbocker  fortune  which  has  been  handed  down  to  our  own  times. 
What  the  Dutch  did  at  "  Manhadoes,"  the  English  and  others  did  farther  east ;  and 
their  examples  were  not  lost  upon  their  descendants,  for  gew-gaws  have  followed  the 
Indian  in  his  retreat  before  civilization,  thus  giving  him  shadows  of  value  in  exchange 
for  his  substance  —  the  result  of  the  battle  and  the  chase. 

"  Alas  !  the  poor  Indian."  He  is  still  the  prey  of  the  white  man's  cupidity ;  and  it 
is,  in  all  human  probability,  his  destiny  so  to  continue  till  the  last  of  his  race  —  a 
wanderer  amidst  the  splendors  of  civilization  —  shall  have  paid  the  debt  to  nature. 

For  wampum  and  its  components,  see  Plate  V. 


PAET  III. 


MASSACHUSETTS    CUREENCY. 

The  Colony  of  Massachusetts,  at  the  period  of  which  we  are  writing,  embraced  what 

was  subsecLuently  the  Territory,  now  the  State  of,  Maine.     Anterior  to  any  permanent 

'  settlement  upon  the  shores  of  Maine,  there  was  an  active  commerce  carried  on  with 

/  the  Indians  by  the  fleets  which  annually  came  from  Europe  for  fish  and  peltry.     The 

'    natives  were  ready,  at  all  times,  to  barter  large  quantities  of  skins  for  beads,  knives, 

I    hatchets,  and  blankets,  but  particularly  for  powder,  shot,  and  strong  water.     As  the 

trade   increased,    the    question   of  providing   a    medium    for    currency   undoubtedly 

exercised  the  minds  of  the  traders;    and  Felt,  in   his  "Massachusetts  Currency," 

informs  us  that,  in  a  voyage  made  by  them  to  Manhadoes  —  New  York  —  in  1628, 

they  brought  back  with  them  the  wampum,  which  subsequently  became  an  important 

auxiliary  for  that  purpose. 

Roger  Williams,  in  his  description  of  the  money  or  currency  of  the  New 
1628.  England  Indians,  gives  the  following  account :  —  "It  is  of  two  kinds  —  white, 
which  they  make  of  the  stem  or  stock  of  the  periwinkle,  after  all  the  shell  is 
broken  off.  Of  this  kind,  six  of  the  small  beads  —  which  they  make  with  holes  to 
string  upon  their  bracelets  —  are  current,  with  the  English,  for  a  penny.  The  other 
kind  is  a  black,  inclining  to  a  blue  shade,  which  is  made  of  the  shell  of  a  fish,  which 
some  of  the  English  call  hens^oqualiock ;  and  of  this  description,  three  are  equal  to  an 
English  penny.     One  fathom  of  this  stringed  money  is  worth  five  shillings." 

Corn,  a  generic  term  for  all  kinds  of  grain,  including  peas,  with  other  productions 
and  live  stock,  was  received  at  the  colonial  treasury  for  taxes,  and  termed  "country 
pay,"  which  term  has  been  handed  down  to  the  present  times,  being  a  common  one  in 
the  rural  districts  of  our  country,  where  it  is  invited  for  goods  by  advertisement,  and 
for  newspaper  literature,  original  and  selected,  by  editorial.  About  this  time,  the 
General  Court  passed  a  law,  that  musket-balls,  of  a  full  bore,  should  pass  currently  for- 

(46) 


MASSACHUSETTS    CURRENCY.  47 

a  farthing  each,  but  that  no  man  should  be  compelled  to  take  more  than  twelve- 
pence  of  them  at  any  one  time.  A  colonial  treasury,  plethoric  with  corn,  live-stock, 
and  musket-balls  induces  ludicrous  sensations  in  contrast  with  the  modern  contrivances 
which  now  prevail  in  connection  with  trade,  currency,  and  revenue. 

The  earliest  metallic  currency  of  the  colonies  was  of  the  coins  of  the  country  by 
which  it  was  settled.  As  the  settlers  were  of  a  class  which  did  not  bring  much  money-  \ 
wealth  with  it,  and  as  the  shipments  of  merchandize  from  the  mother-country  soon  { 
drained  the  colonies  of  their  coins,  the  General  Court  was  impressed  with  the  necessity 
of  enacting  the  following  law  :  — "  That,  upon  any  execution  for  debt  past,  the  officers 
of  the  law  shall  take  land,  houses,  corn,  cattle,  fish,  and  other  commodities" — meaning, 
undoubtedly,  anything  personal  or  real  in  the  shape  of  property  —  "  and  shall  deliver 
it  in  full  satisfaction,  to  the  creditor,  at  such  prices  as  the  same  shall  be  valued  at,  by 
three  understanding  and  indifferent  men,  to  be  chosen,  the  one  by  the  creditor, 
another  by  the  debtor,  and  the  third  by  the  marshal.  And  the  creditor  is  at  liberty 
to  take  his  choice  of  what  goods  he  will,  and  if  these  are  not  sufficient  to  discharge 
the  debt,  then  he  is  to  take  houses  and  lands,  as  aforesaid." 

The  reader  will  perceive  the  great  difficulties  that  existed  in  regard  to  currency  — 
the  public  treasury  being  a  recipient  of  agricultural  productions  for  taxes,  and  the 
General  Court  compelled  to  arbitrarily  prescribe  the  same,  with  every  other  species  of 
property,  for  the  liquidation  of  debts. 

During  this  year,  owing  to  the  failure  of  the  crops  in  the  preceding  one, 
the  currency  of  agriculture  became  very  scarce,  and  hence,  together  with  1640. 
waumpum,  was  much  appreciated  in  value.  The  General  Court  therefore 
ordered,  "  That,  while  waumpumpeage  should  be  current  at  four  for  a  penny,  and  the 
black,  two  for  a  penny,  no  one  being  compelled  to  take  more  than  twelvepence  of  them 
at  a  time,  except  the  receiver  is  willing."  This  was  deemed  a  necessary  measure  in 
aid  of  the  colonists  generally. 

To  increase  the  facilities  of  exchange,  and  aid  the  cancelling  of  the  public 
debts,  the  authorities  farmed  out  the  wampum  as  well  as  the  fur  trade  to  a     1641. 
company.     For  this  privilege,  the  company  were  to  pay  into  the  Colonial 
Treasury  one-twentieth  of  all  their  peltry,  and  were  also  to  purchase  whatever  wampum 
was  received  by  the  college  —  Harvard  —  provided  it  did   not  exceed  £25  at  any 
one  time. 

"Among  the  coins  in  good  credit  among  the  colonists  were  the  Holland 
Ducatoon,  which,  being  worth  three  guilders,  shall  be  current  at  six  shillings ;     1642. 
the  Rix  dollar,  which,  being  equal  to  two  and  a  half  guilders,  shall  be  current 
at  five  shillings,  and  the  ryal  of  eight,  which  shall  be  current  at  five  shillings,  and  be 


48  MASSACHUSETTS    CURRENCY. 

receivable  at  such  rates,  for  all  payments  within  the  jurisdiction  of  the  Massachusetts 
Colony."  Though  this  was  the  edict  in  relation  to  these  coins,  their  very  great 
scarcity  prevented  much  practical  benefit  from  it,  for  though  heard  of,  they  were 
rarely  seen. 

During  this  year,  there  was  a  great  scarcity  of  hard  money  and  every  other 
1646.  species  of  exchange;  and  it  was,  consequently,  productive  of  serious  embarrass- 
ment—  commerce  and  confidence  being  also  very  much  obstructed  by  the 
contentions  in  the  mother  country,  between  Parliament  and  the  Royalists.  The  efiect 
in  the  colony  was  to  unsettle  the  population,  which  led  to  continual  changes  or 
emigration  —  thus  neutralizing  both  the  industry  and  production  of  the  country.  We 
are  thus  reminded  that  financial  crises  and  revulsions  are  not  of  modern  origin ;  but 
that  our  forefathers  were  subject  to  fluctuations  and  changes  in  their  afiairs,  which  can 
only  be  accounted  for,  in  the  past,  by  the  lack  of  perfection  and,  hence,  harmony  in 
the  aggregate  of  the  human  mind,  and  for  which  we  can  perceive  no  remedy. 

We  find  the  following  law  or  order  promulgated  by  the  General  Court :  "  It 
1648.  is  ordered  for  trial  till  the  next  court,  that  all  payable  or  passable  peage — shell 
currency  —  henceforth  shall  be  entire,  without  breaches  —  both  the  white  and 
black  without  defacing  spots,  suitably  strung  in  eight  known  parcels  of  the  following 
denominations  or  value,  viz. :  Id.,  3c?.,  12d.,  and  5  shillings  in  white,  and  2c?.,  6c?.,  2-6c?., 
and  10  shillings  in  black."  The  court  also  ordered,  that  waumpumjpeage  should  pass 
current  in  the  payment  of  debts,  to  the  value  of  forty  shillings  —  the  white  at  eight 
for  a  penny,  and  the  black  at  four,  if  they  be  entire,  and  without  breaches  and  deforming 
spots,  except  in  payment  of  "country  rates"  to  the  Treasurer  —  the  Government 
evidently  not  desiring  the  accumulation  of  shells,  beads,  &c.,  as  cash  in  the  Treasury. 

It  was  evident,  that  while  coin  of  any  kind  was  very  scarce,  the  "  Indian  money," 
in  view  of  its  lack  of  intrinsic  value,  and  the  danger  of  its  accumulation  in  the 
colonial  treasury,  beyond  any  immediate  or  prospective  reliance  for  its  demand  or 
absorption,  was  beginning  to  be  felt  as  a  burden  by  both  the  Government  and  the 
colonists;  seeing,  as  they  did,  that  the  time  was  not  very  remote,  when  it  must 
be  superseded  by  a  currency  bearing  a  more  modern  relation  to  their  increasing  trade 
and  commerce ;  and  hence  the  wealth  and  importance  which  they  must  assume  toward 
countries,  the  currency  of  which  did  not  partake  of  the  character  of  conchology. 

The  period  had  now  arrived  when  the  colonial  thought  and  experience  began 
1650.     to  be  shaped  to  a  somewhat  more  practically  progressive  form ;  as  ideas  in 
relation  to  what  should  constitute   a  currency,  and  the  modus  operandi  for 
attaining  it,  were  seriously  entertained. 

Finding  that  their  country  was  continually  drained  of  its  specie — a  principal  source 


MASSACHUSETTS    CURRENCY.  49 

of  supply  being  the  Dutch  West  India  Islands  —  by  the  European  merchants,  aijd  that, 
in  their  commerce  with  the  West  India  Islands  generally,  they  were  subjected  to  the 
imposition  of  receiving  considerable  quantities  of  light  Spanish  coins,  the  colonists  saw 
the  necessity  for  establishing  a  mint  of  their  own,  for  melting  down  the  coin  thus 
received,  and  stamping  it  according  to  its  real  weight  and  value.  Governor  Hutchinson, 
relative  to  their  trade  with  the  West  Indies,  states,  *'  that  part  of  the  bullion,  taken 
at  this  time,  by  the  buccaneers  and  pirates  from  the  Spaniards,  began  to  find  its  way 
into  the  colonies,"  thus  furnishing  an  additional  necessity  for  a  mint.  The  colonists 
were  also  emboldened  in  their  determination  to  act  for  themselves,  by  its  having  been 
proposed  in  Parliament  to  substitute  a  new  patent  for  that  under  which  they  were 
then  living,  thereby  manifesting,  from  its  character,  a  disposition  to  subject  them  more 
rigidly  to  its  control;  and  feeling,  as  they  did,  justified  in  assuming  that  degree  of 
independence  of  Cromwell  that  he  had  observed  toward  royalty.  Hence,  without 
inviting  an  open  rupture  with  the  Dictator,  they  virtually  declined  either  committing 
themselves  to  his  authority  or  policy,  and  therefore  adopted  such  measures  in  relation 
to  pecuniary  matters,  as  comported  with  the  interests  of  their  own  commonwealth  — 
the  unsettled  condition  of  the  mother  country,  and  the  uncertainty  of  the  result  being 
with  them  an  apology  for  the  treason  with  which  they  were  charged  after  the  fall  of 
Cromwell.  It  is  evident,  however,  from  the  manner  in  which  the  colonists  subsequently 
defended  themselves  against  the  charge  of  exercising  a  right  of  the  throne,  by 
establishing  a  mint  and  coining  money,  that  they  appreciated  their  relation  of 
dependence  upon  the  mother  country,  and  that  the  acts  of  which  they  had  been  guilty 
were  really  a  violation  of  the  superior  power.  Had  mankind,  in  all  ages,  however, 
been  strictly  obedient  to  those  who,  whether  under  the  forms  of  government  or 
otherwise,  have  assumed  to  be  their  masters  upon  the  basis  of  human  prerogative,  they 
would  have  made  but  limited  progress,  if  any,  from  the  despotism  of  political  slavery, 
from  which  they  have  fully  in  our  own,  and  measurably  in  other  countries,  extricated 
themselves,  by  gradually  repudiating  all  authority  not  clearly  delegated  to  man  by  the 
Supreme  Governor  of  all. 

A  mint  once  determined  upon,  the  authorities  appear  to  have  been  actively  and 
vigorously  engaged  on  the  subjects  of  coinage  and  currency.  We  find,  that  in  order 
that  the  adoption  of  any  new  system  should  not  operate  prejudiciously  upon  tlie 
interests  of  the  people,  that  the  then  existing  laws  in  regard  to  currency  should  be  in 
force  till  September  (1652) — "the  money  hereafter  appointed  and  expressed  shall 
then  be  the  current  money  of  this  commonwealth  and  no  other,  unless  English,  except 
the  receivers  themselves  consent."  The  court  then  enacted :  '•'  that  all  persons 
whatsoever  shall  have  liberty  to  bring  into  the  mint  house,  at  Boston,  all  bullion, 
7 


50  MASSACHUSETTS    CURRENCY. 

plate,  and  Spanish  coin,  there  to  be  melted,  and  to  be  brought  to  the  alloy  of  sterling 
silver,  by  John  Hull,  master  of  said  mint,  and  his  sworn  officers ;  and  by  him  or  them 
to  be  coined  into  twelve-penny,  six-penny,  and  three-penny  pieces,  which  shall  be  for 
form  flat,  and  square  on  the  sides,  and  stamped  on  the  one  side  with  N.  E.,  and  on  the 
other,  with  the  denominations  Xlld.,  Vic?.,  and  Hid.,  according  to  the  value  of  each 
piece,  together  with  a  privy  mark,  which  shall  be  appointed  every  three  months  by 
the  Governor,  and  known  only  to  him  and  the  sworn  officers  of  the  mint.  And, 
further,  the  said  master  of  the  mint  is  hereby  required  to  coin  all  the  said  money  of 
good  silver,  of  the  just  alloy  of  new  sterling  English  money,  and  for  value,  to  stamp 
two-pence  in  a  shilling  of  less  value  than  the  present  English  coin,  and  the  lesser  pieces 
proportionally.  And  all  such  coins,  as  aforesaid,  shall  be  acknowledged  to  be  the 
current  coin  of  this  commonwealth,  and  pass  from  man  to  man,  in  all  payments, 
accordingly,  within  this  jurisdiction  only.  And  the  mint  master,  for  himself  and  officers, 
for  the  labor  in  melting,  refining,  and  coining,  is  allowed  to  take  one  shilling  out  of 
every  twenty  shillings  which  he  shall  stamp.  And  it  shall  be  in  the  liberty  of  any 
person  who  brings  into  the  mint  house  any  bullion,  plate,  or  Spanish  coin,  to  be  present 
and  see  the  same  melted,  refined,  and  alloyed,  and  then  to  take  a  receipt  of  the  master 
of  the  mint  for  the  weight  of  that  which  is  good  silver,  alloyed  as  aforesaid,  for  which 
the  mint  master  shall  deliver  to  him  the  like  weight  in  current  money,  viz. :  every 
shilling  to  weigh  3  dwt.  Troy  weight,  and  lesser  pieces  proportionally  —  deducting 
allowances  as  before  expressed." 

A  committee  of  the  General  Court  was  appointed  for  carrying  the  foregoing 
1652.  order  into  effect,  and,  at  a  meeting  of  that  committee,  it  was  decided  that  there 
should  be  a  mint  house  built,  and  the  necessary  tools  procured  at  the  cost  of 
the  commonwealth.  Immediate  action,  on  the  part  of  the  colonial  authorities,  followed 
this  decision  —  the  mint  house  was  erected,  and  very  soon  thereafter,  pattern  pieces  of 
coin  were  prepared.  These  pattern  pieces,  bearing  upon  the  obverse  a  double  ring 
enclosing  a  tree,  with  the  inscription  of  Masathvsets  around  it,  and  on  the  reverse 
New  England,  with  the  year  of  our  Lord,  1652,  were  rejected  —  the  law  having 
specified  the  design.  The  first  emissions,  therefore,  accorded  very  nearly  with  the 
prescription  of  the  law  —  the  type  being  a  plain  irregular  circle  of  silver,  with  no  other 
inscription  upon  it  than  the  letters  N.  E.  on  the  obverse,  and  the  numerals  XII.,  VI., 
on  the  reverse.  Shillings  and  sixpences  were  only  coined  at  this  time  —  the  sizes 
being  8,  5  —  see  scale.  It  has  been  stated  that  three-penny  pieces  were  also  coined, 
but  as  we  have  never  seen  them,  nor  heard  of  them,  otherwise,  we  may  with  propriety 
be  permitted  to  question  the  truth  of  any  such  statement. 

It  has  also  been  stated,  that  what  we  are  treating  of,  and  recording  as  the  first 


MASSACHUSETTS    CURRENCY.  51 

coinage  of  the  Massachusetts  mint,  was  struck  off  in  Newcastle,  England,  or,  as  Leak 
has  it,  in  Newark.  There  can  be  no  doubt,  however,  but  that  it  was  really  of  domestic 
manufacture,  for  beside  the  law  we  have  given  authorizing  it,  we  have  the  direct 
testimony  of  the  celebrated  numismatologist,  Mr.  Thornley,  to  that  effect,  and  who 
also  states  that  they  were  familiarly  known  as  the  North-Easters,  and  that  the  late 
Earl  of  Pembroke  denominated  them  New  England  money  in  his  collection. 

The  first  emissions  of  coin  appear  to  have  been  too  plain  for  the  colonists,  and  we 
have  no  doubt  but  that  they  were  generally  denounced  for  their  lack  of  art  and  beauty ; 
for,  at  the  assembling  of  the  next  General  Court  in  the  month  of  October,  1652,  it  was 
decreed  that  the  type  should  be  altered,  (which  was  easy,  if  the  types  of  the  pattern 
pieces  we  have  previously  described  had  been  preserved,)  and  "  that  instead  of  N.  E. 
on  the  obverse,  there  should  be  a  double  ring  enclosing  a  tree,  with  the  inscription  of 
*  Masathvsets'  around  it,  and  on  the  reverse,  *  New  England,'  with  the  year  of  our 
Lord,  1652,  and  the  respective  values,  XII.,  VI.,  III.,  II.,  I.  The  three  first 
denominations  only  were  struck  off  at  this  time,  and  the  two-penny  pieces  followed  in 
1662,  ten  years  thereafter  —  the  date  of  which  they  bear.  It  is  exceedingly  doubtful 
whether  the  one-penny  pieces  were  ever  coined,  this  being  the  opinion  of  numisma- 
tologists  generally.  The  coins  issued  were  of  the  fineness  of  sterling  silver,  as 
prescribed  by  the  colonial  mint  law,  two-pence  less  in  weight  and,  hence,  value,  in  the 
shilling  than  the  English  coin  of  the  same  denomination. 

The  most  perfect  specimens  extant  at  this  day  weigh  from  64  to  67  grains,  and  by 
assay  at  our  mint,  have  been  proved  to  be  926-1000  fine  —  the  value  of  which, 
therefore,  is  about  seventeen  cents.  So  much  opposition  was  there  in  England  to  this 
colonial  coinage-,  when  it  first  made  its  appearance  there,  that  it  would  only  pass  at  a 
discount  of  one-fourth  of  its  home  value. 

The  Court,  as  we  learn,  finally  came  to  the  conclusion,  that  the  contract  with  John 
Hull,  the  mint  master,  was  too  lucrative,  and  an  offer  was  made  to  him  for  the  release 
of  the  same,  which  he  refused.  This  Mr.  Hull  accumulated  a  large  fortune  from  his 
connection  with  the  mint ;  and  left  at  his  death  one  of  the  largest  estates  in  the  colony. 
l^t  is  stated  that  Samuel  Sewell,  Esq.,  who  married  his  daughter,  received  with 
her  the  snug  sum  at  that  day  of  30,000  New  England  shillings;  that  he  was  the  son 
of  a  poor  woman,  to  whom  he  was  particularly  dutiful  and  kind,  and  that,  in 
consequence,  his  minister,  the  Rev.  Mr.  Wilson,  prophesied  that  God  would  bless  him, 
and  that  though  then  poor,  he  should  acquire  a  large  estate.  This  is  a  very  natural 
incident  of  those  peculiar  times,  when  the  mass  of  mankind  in  New  England  believed 
that  God  directed  the  minutest  details  of  everything  sublunary,  in  accordance  with 
human  merit. 


62  MASSACHUSETTS    CURRENCY. 

Although  the  Massachusetts  mint  continued  to  coin  its  peculiar  currency  for  thirty- 
six  years,  up  to  January  16,  1686,  no  alteration  of  date,  from  the  establishment  of  the 
mint,  except  upon  the  two-penny  pieces  issued  in,  and  bearing  the  date  of,  A.  D.  1662, 
occurred,  and  though  there  were,  during  that  time,  a  great  variety  of  dies,  the  dates 
of  coinage  cannot  otherwise  be  determined. 

From  a  retrospective  view  of  the  colony  of  Massachusetts,  we  can  perceive  that  her 
mint  was  an  important  institution,  as  it  related  to  her  prosperity;  and  also  as  a 
successful  innovation  upon  kingly  authority,  which  aided  to  sow  the  seeds  of  her  future 
independence ;  as  an  isolated  and  subject  people  never  forget  the  slightest  approximation 
to  practical  success  in  any  position  they  may  have  assumed,  or  act  undertaken  — 
uniformly  increasing,  as  it  does,  their  self-importance  and  desire  for  self-government, 
against  any  and  every  authority  not  inherent  in  themselves. 

During  Governor  Andross'  administration,  endeavors  were  made  to  obtain  leave 
from  the  mother  country  for  the  continuance,  or,  in  other  words,  legalization,  of  the 
mint.  The  matter  was  submitted  to  the  Master  of  the  Mint  in  England,  who  opposed 
it  upon  the  plea  of  "prudential  considerations."  Though  the  words  "royal  prero- 
gative" were  not  used,  we  have  no  doubt  the  answer  involved  thoughts  unfavorable  to 
the  continuance  of  such  an  assumed  privilege  in  the  hands  of  the  colonists. 

The  following  very  interesting  incident  in  the  history  of  the  colony  is  well 
1662.  authenticated.  Sir  Thomas  Temple,  the  Governor  of  Nova  Scotia,  and  a 
warm  friend  of  the  New  England  Colonies,  while  on  a  visit  to  London,  was 
permitted  an  interview  with  his  sovereign,  Charles  II.,  who,  in  conversing  with  him 
relative  to  affairs  in  the  Colony  of  Massachusetts,  evinced  great  warmth  of  feeling 
against  the  colonists.  Among  the  matters  referred  to,  in  the  interview,  the  king  said 
that  they  had  invaded  his  right  by  coining  money.  Governor  Temple  is  said  to  have 
replied  that  the  colonists,  in  view  of  their  isolated  condition  and  necessities,  had 
deemed  it  no  crime  to  coin  money  for  themselves ;  and,  in  the  course  of  conversation, 
took  from  his  pocket  and  presented  to  the  king  some  of  the  coin.  Upon  observing 
the  tree,  he  inquired  what  kind  it  was.  The  prompt  and  happy  reply  of  the  Governor 
was,  that  is  the  Eoyal  Oak,'  that  saved  your  majesty's  life.     Such  an  answer  restored 

1  The  defeat  of  the  Scotch  army  at  Worcester,  England,  by  Cromwell  —  affording  to  him  what  he  denomi- 
nated the  crowning  mercy  —  compelled  Charles  to  seek  safety  in  flight,  attended  by  a  few  of  his  devoted 
friends.  To  provide  for  his  safety  more  certainly,  however,  it  was  deemed  best  for  him  to  separate  from 
them,  and  without  their  knowledge.  By  the  advice,  therefore,  of  the  Earl  of  Derby,  he  went  to  Boscobel,  a 
lone  house  on  the  borders  of  Staffordshire,  inhabited  by  one  Penderell,  a  farmer.  To  this  man  Charles 
entrusted  himself;  and,  though  death  was  denounced  against  any  one  who  concealed  him,  and  a  large  reward 
was  offered  for  his  betrayal,  Penderell's  honor,  and  loyalty  were  unshaken.  Taking  Charles,  with  his  four 
brothers,  having  first  clothed  him  in  a  garb  like  their  own,  they  retired  to  the  woods,  where  they  were  all 


MASSACHUSETTS    CURRENCY.  53 

the  king  to  good  humor,  and  induced  him  to  listen  to  the  pleas  of  Governor  Temple 
in  behalf  of  the  colonists.  The  king  expressed  no  further  dissatisfaction,  but,  laughing 
heartily,  called  the  coiners  "honest  dogs." 

The  colonial  government  was  called  to  account  by  the  royal  commissioners  who  had 
come  hither  respecting  the  mint.     The  commissioners  declared  the  coining  of  money 
to  be  a  royal  prerogative,  for  the  commission  of  which,  the  act  of  indemnity  was  the 
only  salvo.     They  were  so  dictatorial,  that  the  government  refused  any  further  con-      / 
ference  with  them,  and  made  an  appeal  to  the  crown  —  the  usual  resort  of  a  subject  / 
people  to  ward  off  immediate  action.  ■^' 

As  a  step  toward  softening  the  asperity  of  the  king,  who  could  ill  digest  the     1666. 
act  of  establishing  a  mint  by  the  colonists,  two  very  large  masts  were  sent  to 
London  for  his   majesty's  navy ;    and,  very  soon   thereafter,  a  ship-load  of  smaller 
sized  spars  followed. 

The  mint-master  was  ordered,  by  the  government,  to  stamp  N.  E.  on  all  1672. 
foreign  coins,  as  evidence  of  the  proper  weight  and  value. 

Notwithstanding  the  continued  opposition  of  the  royal  authority  to  the  1675. 
mint,  it  was  ordered^  that  the  masters  of  the  mint,  John  Hull  and  Robert 
Saunderson,  continue  to  mint  what  silver  bullion  shall  come  in  for  seven  years,  and 
that  they  shall  receive  12c?.  of  every  twenty  shillings,  and  3c?.  for  waste  in  every 
three  ounces  of  sterling  silver  —  15c?.  in  every  twenty  shillings  coined;  and  the  mint- 
masters  shall  pay  into  the  colonial  treasury,  during  the  said  term  of  seven  years,  £20. 

A  committee  of  the  Legislature,  in  an  interview  with  Captain  Hull,  of  the 
mint,  and  others,  relative  to  increasing  the  coinage  at  the  mint,  and  to  prevent     1677. 
the  export  of  specie,  decide  that  there  is  no  other  remedy  but  the  raising  the 
values  of  coin,  or  making  the  mint  free. 

Still  perceiving  the  finger  of  royal  displeasure  pointed  at  them,  on  account  of  their 
mint,  the  General  Court  sent  another  peace-offering  to  his  majesty,  in  the  form  of  ten 
barrels  of  cranberries,  two  hogsheads  of  special  good  samp,  and  three  thousand  codfish. 
This  ought  to  have  softened  the  heart  of  his  majesty ;  but  subsequent  events  prove  it 
to  have  been  as  obdurate  as  ever.  He  had,  however,  a  people  to  deal  with  as  full  of 
expedients  as  he  was  of  prerogative,  and  who,  having  ultimately  acquired  strength 
enough  for  resistance  to  prerogative,  used  it  manfully  and  successfully. 

employed  in  cutting  fagots.  Some  nights,  the  king  laid  upon  the  straw;  but  subsequently,  for  better 
security,  he  climbed  an  oak,  where  he  sheltered  himself  among  the  branches  and  leaves.  From  his  hiding- 
place,  he  saw  the  soldiers  who  were  in  search  of  him,  and  heard  their  earnest  expressions  in  relation  to  his 
seizure.  Hence  the  tree  that  protected  him  was  called  the  Royal  Oak,  and  was  regarded  with  great 
veneration  by  many  in  the  neighborhood.  —  Hume. 


64  MASSACHUSETTS    CURRENCY. 

1680.  A  free  mint  was  the  idea — bullion  to  be  coined  at  it  without  charge — it  being 
urged,  that  foreign  coins  came  from  the  mint  six  and  a  quarter  per  cent,  less 

in  value  than  they  entered  it ;  that  the  stamp  of  the  mint  upon  their  money  added 
nothing  to  its  real  value,  a  Spanish  cross,  in  all  other  places,  being  as  much  esteemed 
as  a  New  England  pine. 

The  agents  of  the  government,  bound  to  London,  were  instructed  to  be 

1681.  humble  suitors  to  his  majesty,  for  obtaining  his  royal  grant  for  the  remittance 
of  all  past  errors  or  deviations  from  the  rules  of  their  charter ;  and,  also,  to 

tender  him  an  annual  recognition  of  the  same ;  and,  as  an  acknowledgment  of  their 
thankfulness  for  his  majesty's  clemency  and  forgiveness,  twenty  or  thirty  beaver-skins, 
or  any  thing  the  growth  or  product  of  the  colony,  which  his  majesty  might  please  to 
demand,  at  Boston. 

To  prevent  the  export  of  specie,  the  General  Court   raised  the  nominal 

1682.  value   of  a  pillar,  Mexican  or  Sevil  piece  of  eight,  from  65.  to  6s.  M.,  if 
weighing  one  ounce  of  silver,  Troy  weight,  and  its  parts  in  like  proportion. 

1685.  The  officers  of  the  London  Mint  report  to  the  commissioners  of  the  Royal 
Exchequer,  relative  to  the  money  of  Massachusetts,  that  it  was  22^  per  cent. 

lighter  than  that  of  England,  and  that,  in  consequence,  much  of  it  was  brought  hither. 
They  recommend  that,  if  the  king  permit  the  continuance  of  the  Boston  Mint,  he 
should  order  its  emissions  to  be  of  equal  value  with  his  own  specie.  They  add,  that 
the  Legislature  of  Massachusetts  have  pursued  the  unwarrantable  act  of  coining  money 
ever  since  the  year  1652,  without  alteration  of  date.  This  was  a  premonitory  symptom 
of  the  loss  of  their  charter  privileges,  and  this  event  they  soon  experienced. 

The  long-established  form   of  colonial  government  had  departed,  and  its 

1686.  remains  had  been  placed  in   the   hands   of  a  better-reputed  royalty,  to  be 
modified  and  administered  according  to  direct  instructions  from  the   crown. 

Still  the  mint  survived,  and  coining  was  not  at  an  end.  It  became  the  occasion, 
however,  of  another  report,  by  the  Earl  of  Rochester  —  Lord  High  Treasurer  of  Eng- 
land—  in  which  he  gave  his  reasons  why  the  Mint  of  Massachusetts  should  be 
abolished;  which  were,  that  a  similar  establishment  had  been  refused  to  Ireland,  after 
being  granted  in  1662,  and,  also,  in  Jamaica  in  1679,  and  that  it  tended  to  injure  the 
standard  coins  adopted  by  Parliament.  This  same  year,  the  establishment  of  a  bank, 
or  paper  currency,  was  agitated. 

"Country  pay"  was  still  permitted.     The  administration    of  Sir  Edmund 

1687.  Andross  was  accommodating;  as  the  public  demand  on  the  town  of  Hingham 
was  paid  in  milk  pails,  and  which  we  believe  are  a  lawful  tender  down  to  this 


MASSACHUSETTS    CURRENCY.  55 

day.     The  coffers  of  the  treasury  were,  as  it  appears,  still  kept  open  for  the  products 
of  the  field  as  well  as  the  mine. 

January  1. — Treasury  Report,  viz. :  1688. 

£.     s.   d.. 

Corn  remaining  unsold ,     938  11  1 

Money 1340  10  3 

This  year,  a  petition  was  sent  to  William  and  Mary  for  permission  to  renew  their 
mint  operations.  It  was  received  unfavorably,  and  coining,  suspended  by  authority 
under  the  late  administration,  received  its  quietus.  Thus  fell  an  institution,  around 
which  the  hopes  and  fears  of  the  colonists  had  long  clustered,  and  against  which, 
expressions  of  rigid  dissatisfaction  had  been  often  uttered.  Though  the  mint  was  dead, 
its  products  were  long  current,  and  down  to  the  Revolution,  which  resulted  in  our 
independence,  they  were  often  seen  and  passed  currently  with  other  coin. 

Having  been  forbidden  to  coin  money,  they  resorted  to  paper,  and  empowered 
a  committee  to  issue  £7000  in  bills,  from  5  shillings  to  £5.     Thus  was  began     1690. 
a  system  of  furnishing  a  paper  currency  regulated  by  the  Government,  which 
continued  down  to  1750. 

Paper  at  this  time  abundant  but  irredeemable ;  an  emission  having  been  made 
of  £3000,  in  denominations  of  \d.,  2d.,  4:id.,  Qd.,  9d.,  and  186?.  1750. 

Unceasing  expedients  and  contests  for  maintaining  the  value  of  paper  money, 
and  legislating  to  effect  it,  by  defining  the  value  of  coin.  1751. 

Governor  Shirley  congratulates  the  colony  upon  a  return  to  a  silver  medium, 
in  consequence  of  Parliament  having  reimbursed  it  for  expenditures  incurred     1753. 
in  the  reduction   of  Cape   Breton  —  much   of  the  embarrassment  that  had 
existed,  having  arisen  from  burdens  imposed  by  the  dictation  of  the  mother  country 
for  belligerent  aggression  or  defence. 

But  little  love  between  Parliament  and  the  colonies.  Governor  Hutchinson, 
however,  congratulates  the  province  upon  the  good  condition  of  its  treasury,  1774. 
it  being  free  from  debt  —  the  tax  from  last  year,  with  the  amount  in  the 
treasury,  being  equal  to  all  of  the  securities  due  from  the  Government,  and  the  current 
charges  for  the  year.  The  lovers  of  liberty  in  the  colony  regarded  this  as  but  a 
"  gilded  pill,"  which  was  no  antidote  for  the  political  diseases  incident  to  either  a 
restricted  charter  or  personal  rights ;  and  hence  it  was  not  acceptable  to  them. 

August  23d,  the  General  Court,  to  supply  the  wants  of  the  treasury,  after 
several  weeks  of  consideration,  authorized  an  emission  of  £100,000  in  paper.     1775. 
It  was  also  ordered  that  there  shall  be  on  the  back  of  each  bill  the  figure  of  an 
American  with   a  sword  in  his  right  hand,  and  the  following  inscription  suspended 


56  MASSACHUSETTS    CURRENCY. 

therefrom,  viz. :  "  Ense  petit  placidum  sub  libertate  quietam."  ^  E[e  seeks  with  hia 
sword  for  peace  and  liberty. 

The  circumstances  under  which  this  currency  was  sent  forth,  were  clothed  with 
serious  greatness.  It  embraced  the  oppressions,  necessities,  purposes,  perils,  hopes^ 
and  fears  of  a  people  breaking  from  long  established  relations,  and  setting  themselves 
in  array  against  a  mighty  empire. 

The  most  of  the  device  composed  the  seal  of  Massachusetts,  as  very  recently  adopted 
by  the  General  Court.  It  presented  to  the  eye  the  royal  armorials,  which  had  so  long 
been  a  part  of  its  public  documents,  and  which  denoted  subjection  to  the  crown, 
deliberately  repudiated,  and  others,  exhibiting  emblems  of  freedom,  and  the  sentiment 
of  the  patriot,  Sydney,  adopted  in  their  place. 

On  each  bill  the  names  of  three  persons,  designated  to  sign  it,  were  to  be  written — 
one  with  red,  another  with  black,  and  the  third  with  blue  ink. 

Massachusetts,  with  the  other  members  of  the  I/nion,  agrees  to  the  articles 
1777.     of  confederation,  wherein  power  is  delegated  to  Congress,  to  borrow  money, 
issue  bills  on  the  responsibility  of  the  States,  and  regulate  the  alloy  and  value 
of  coins. 
1784.         Massachusetts  Bank  chartered. 

In  this  year  the  confederated  government  entered  into  a  contract  for  the 

1786.  coinage  of  a  copper  coin. — (See  "First  United  States  Cent.") 

July  8th,  the  Governor  is  requested  to  inquire  whether  Massachusetts  can  be  supplied 
with  silver  and  copper  coin  struck  at  the  United  States  Mint,  when  it  shall  have 
commenced  operations. 

October  17th,  being  much  in  want  of  specie,  and  thinking  the  National  Mint  not 
reliable  for  it,  the  Assembly  vote  that  a  like  establishment  should  be  erected  for  the 
coinage  of  copper,  silver,  and  gold.  Of  the  first  sort,  they  order  seventy  thousand 
dollars  worth,  in  cents  and  half  cents,  to  be  coined  as  soon  as  practicable. 

Joshua  Witherel  is  empowered  to  have  the  necessary  buildings  erected,  and 

1787.  suitable  machinery  provided  for  the  same.     July  6th,  it  was  decided  that  the 
copper  coin  bear   the   following   devices  —  on  one  face  the  American  eagle 

having  in  the  right  talon  a  bundle  of  arrows,  and  in  the  left  an  olive  branch  —  the 
emblems  of  defence  and  peace;  also,  upon  its  breast  a  shield  inscribed  with  the  word 
"  Cent,"  being  nearly  encircled  with  the  word  "  Massachusetts,"  and  having  at  the 

*  From  the  noted  line  and  a  half  written  by  Algernon  Sydney  in  the  album  of  the  University  of  Copenhagen. 

" Manus  hcec,  inimica  tyrannes, 


Ense  petit  placidum  sub  libertate  quietam. 


MASSACHUSETTS    CURRENCY.  57 

bottom  the  date  of  its  emission,  "1787."  On  the  other  face,  an  Indian  of  full  length, 
with  his  bow  and  arrow,  a  star,  denoting  this  State,  near  his  forehead,  and  a 
circumscription  of  the  word  "  Commonwealth." 

September  28th,  the  Federal  Constitution  presented  to  Congress,  expressly  providing 
that  no  State  shall  coin  money,  emit  bills  of  credit,  or  make  anything  but  gold  and 
silver  coin  a  tender  in  payment  of  debts. 

The  cent  ordered  from  the  Massachusetts  Mint  made  its  appearance.  1788. 

November  17th,  in  conformity  with  the  National  Constitution,  the  Assembly 
ordered  that  the  copper  on  hand  at  the  mint  be  manufactured  as  soon  as  possible 
into  cents,  and  that  then  the  workmen  be  discharged. 

Thus  ended  the  second  mint,  nearly  a  century  having  elapsed  since  the  termination 
of  the  first,  which  long  withstood  the  storms  of  regal  displeasure,  while  its  successor 
was  of  short  continuance. 


PART  IV 

COLONIAL    COINS 


SOMEK,    SUMMEK,    OR    BERMUDA    ISLANDS'    COIN. 

Though  the  Bermuda  Islands  are  not  a  part  of  our  own  country  —  the  coins  of 
which  I  am  particularly  describing  —  yet  intimately  related,  as  they  were,  in  their 
early  history  to  the  "  Old  Dominion,"  I  have  deemed  it  of  sufficient  interest  to  present 
it,  chronologically,  as  the  first  home  of  American  coins. 

These  islands  are  a  small  cluster  in  the  Atlantic  ocean,  lying  in  latitude  32°  35 
north,  and  longitude  63°  28'  west,  in  the  form  of  a  shepherd's  crook,  and  so  formidably 
surrounded  by  rocks  as  to  be  almost  inaccessible.  They  were  discovered  by  Juan 
Bermudez,  a  Spaniard,  but  were  not  inhabited  till  the  year  1609,  when  Sir  George 
Somers  was  cast  away  upon  them ;  since  which  time  they  have  been  included  in  thfe 
possessions  of  Great  Britain. 

In  1612,  efforts  were  successfully  made  to  colonize  them  by  the  Virginia  Company, 
headed  for  the  purpose,  by  Mr.  John  More.  He  was  succeeded  in  authority  by  Captain 
Daniel  Tucker,  under  whom  the  endeavor  was  made  to  establish  a  currency,  as  we  are 
informed  by  Captain  John  Smith,  of  established  Virginian  reputation,  in  the  following 
words :  "  besides  meat,  and  drink,  and  clothes,  they  had  for  a  time  a  certain  kind  of 
brass  money,  with  a  hogge  on  one  side,  in  memory  of  the  abundance  of  hogges  which 
were  found  at  their  first  landing." 

Though  this  coin  has  never  been  submitted  to  our  eyesight,  nor  is  it  to  be  found  in 
any  collection  or  cabinet  of  coins  in  the  United  States,  we  have  given  a  fac-simile  upon 
the  authority  and  from  the  works  of  Snelling  and  Ruding  —  taken  by  them  from  the 
cabinet  collection  of  the  celebrated  numismatologist,  Mr.  Hollis,  of  England,  who,  in 
his  memoirs,  calls  it  "  a  coin  of  the  Summer  Islands." 


COLONIAL    COINS.  59 

Device. — A  wild  boar,  with  the  Roman  numerals  XII.  over  it. 
Legend.— ^OME^U  ISLANDS.     M.  M.,  a  mullet  of  five  points. 
Reverse. — ^A  ship  under  sail,  firing  a  gun.  ^ 

(Plate  VL,  Figure  1.) 

New  England  Pattern  Shilling. 

Device. — A  pine-tree  in  the  field,  surrounded  by  a  circle  of  dots. 
ig^ew(^.— MASSACHVSETS,  N.  E. 

Reverse. — A  circle  of  dots ;  in  the  area  "  1650,"  and  under  it  the  numerals  X  il, 

(Sizes.     See  Plate  VI.,  Figure  2.) 

This  piece,  as  we  describe  it,  is  said  to  be  in  the  possession  of  a  Mr.  Brown,  of  the 
city  of  Boston,  and  has  been  supposed  to  be  one  of  the  pattern  pieces  struck  off  at  the 
Massachusetts  Mint.  It  is  unfortunate  that  the  originator  or  artist  should  have 
blundered  in  the  legend,  which,  upon  the  genuine,  was  "  MASATHVSETS,"  for 
otherwise  it  might  have  attained  to  the  credibility  of  being  genuine.  As  it  is,  there  is 
no  doubt  but  it  is  counterfeit  —  induced  by  the  same  spirit  which  has  characterized  the 
manufacturers  of  "  May  Flower"  furniture. 

We  feel  assured,  from  the  fact  of  a  genuine  piece  of  this  kind  not  yet  having 
made  its  appearance,  that  they  were  all  returned  to  the  crucible  in  1652 ;  otherwise, 
they  would  have  been  dragged  to  the  light  by  some  enthusiastic  virtuoso. 

New  England  Shilling. 

Obverse. — The  letters  N.  E.  near  the  outer  edge  of  the  field,  enclosed  by  a  line 

irregular  in  form,  the  edge  forming  part  of  the  same.  1652. 

Reverse. — The  numerals  XII.  similarly  placed,  and  in  the  same  manner. 

(Size  9.) 

New  England  Sixpence. 

Diflering  from  the  shilling  only  in  size,  and  the  numerals  VL 
(Size  5.     SeePlateVL,Figures3and4.) 

These  were  the  pioneer  coins  of  the  Massachusetts  Mint,  and,  undoubtedly,  of  the 
American  portion  of  the  North  American  continent.  In  the  portion  of  this  work 
allotted  to  the  "  Massachusetts  Currency,"  they  have  been  fully  and  particularly  noticed, 
and  we  may  add,  they  are  entitled,  among  American  numismatologists,  to  very  marked 
distinction. 

As  the  fac-similes  represent  them,  they  were  irregularly  circular,  but  coined  of  good 
sterling  silver.  There  was  but  one  type  and  three  varieties  of  these  coins.  It  is  very 
difl&cult  to  find  them  unmutilated  or  not  clipped. 


60  COLONIAL    COINS. 

Snelling  denominates  them  plantation  shillings  and  sixpences.  They  were  well 
planted ;  as  around  them  clustered  the  will  of  the  colonists,  in  regard  to  a  coinage  of 
their  own,  which  they  maintained  against  all  opposing  authority  for  upwards  of  thirty 
years,  and  its  circulation  till  the  adoption  of  the  Constitution  in  1787. 

THE    TREE    COINS. 
Pine  Tree  Shilling. 

1652.        Device. — The  American  pine  tree  in  the  field,  surrounded  by  a  circle  of  dots. 
ie^gwcZ.— MASATHYSETS  in.     Mint-mark,  a  rose  of  dots. 
Reverse. — A  circle  of  dots ;  in  the  area  1652,  and  under  it  the  numerals  XH. 
Legend.— ^^W  ENGLAND  AN.  DO. 

(Size  8.) 

Pine  Tree  Sixpence. 
Device. — The  American  pine  tree  in  the  field,  surrounded  by  a  circle  of  dots. 

ie^ewf^.— masathvsets  in. 

Reverse. — A  circle  of  dots ;  in  the  area  1652,  and  under  it  the  numerals  Yl. 
Legend.—'KEW  ENGLAND  ANO. 

(Size  5.) 

Pine  Tree  Three-pence. 

Device. — The  American  pine  tree  in  the  field,  surrounded  by  a  circle  of  dots. 
i^^encZ.— MASATHVSETS.     Mint-mark,  a  rose  of  dots. 
Reverse. — ^A  circle  of  dots ;  in  the  area  1652,  and  under  it  the  numerals  m. 
(Size  3.     See  Plate  VL,  Figures  5,  6,  and  7.) 

Oak  Tree  Shilling. 

Device. — The  oak  tree  in  the  field,  surrounded  by  a  circle  of  dots. 
ie^ew(i._MASATHYSETS  IN.     Mint-mark,  a  rose  of  dots. 
Reverse. — A  circle  of  dots ;  in  the  area  1652,  and  under  it  the  numerals  XII. 
Legend.— ^W^  ENGLAND  AN.  DOM. 

(Size  8.) 

Oak  Tree  Sixpence. 

Device. — The  oak  tree  in  the  field,  surrounded  by  a  circle  of  dots. 
Xg^ewci.— MASATHVSETS  IN.     Mint-mark,  a  rose  of  dots. 
Reverse. — A  circle  of  dots ;  in  the  area  1652,  and  under  it  the  numerals  VL 
ie^ewc?.-NEW  ENGLAND  ANO. 

(Size  5.) 


COLONIAL    COINS.  61 

Oak  Tree  Three-pence. 

Device. — The  oak  tree  in  the  field,  surrounded  by  a  circle  of  dots. 
Legend.— UASATB.YSETS.     Mint-mark,  a  rose  of  dots. 
Reverse. — A  circle  of  dots ;  in  the  area  1652,  and  under  it  the  numerals  HI. 
Legend.— WE,^  ENGLAND. 

Oak  Tree  Two-pence. 

Device. — The  oak  tree  in  the  field,  surrounded  by  a  circle  of  dots. 
Xe^enc?.— MASATHYSETS.     Mint-mark,  a  rose  of  dots. 
Reverse. — A  circle  of  dots ;  in  the  area  1662,  and  under  it  the  numerals  11. 
Legend.— NEW  ENGLAND. 

(See  Plate  VL,  Figures  8,  9,  10,  and  11.)   ' 

Of  the  tree  coins,  or  those  bearing  upon  their  face  a  tree,  there  were  two  types  and 
thirty-six  varieties  in  circulation,  so  fiir  as  we  have  been  able,  by  diligent  search,  to 
ascertain. 

Those  bearing  the  pine  tree,  were  undoubtedly  the  first  type  issued  ;  as  the  historical 
incidents,  previously  given  in  relation  to  the  currency  of  Massachusetts,  and  the 
testimony  derived  from  the  coins  themselves,  we  think,  fully  warrant  the  assertion.  Of 
this  type,  we  have  examined  eighteen  distinct  varieties  —  embracing  five  different 
kinds  or  representations  of  the  pine  tree;  the  most  remarkable  of  which  bears  the 
representation  of  a  thickly  branched  oblong  tree  with  an  oval  top,  which  occurs  on 
the  shillings,  sixpences,  and  three-pences,  but  in  no  instance  have  we  been  able  to  find  a 
two-penny  coin  with  either  variety  of  the  pine-tree  for  an  emblem. 

The  oak  tree  coins  we  denominate  the  second  type.  Of  this  type,  we  have  examined 
about  the  same  number  of  varieties,  which  embrace  six  different  forms  of  the  oak.  In 
two  of  the  forms,  the  trees  are  in  clusters  of  three,  their  branches  intertwining  with 
each  other,  as  we  frequently  see  in  the  species  known  as  the  scrub  oak,  and  of  which 
variety  there  were  coins  of  all  the  denominations  issued. 

The  two-penny  pieces  all  bear  a  representation  of  the  oak  tree,  and  they  were  only 
issued  in  accordance  with  the  following  law :  — 

"  The  mint-master  is  enjoined  to  coin  two-penny  pieces  of  silver,  of  the  first 
bullion  that  comes  into  his  hands,  in  the  just  proportion  and  alloy  of  other     1662. 
monies  which  are  allowed  here,  to  answer  the  purposes  of  the  country  for 
exchange ;  that  is,  £50  the  first  year  for  every  £100  coined ;  and,  thereafter,  £20  of 
the  currency  annually  for  every  £100  that  may  be  coined;  and  the  law  to  continue 
in  force  for  seven  years."  ^ 

'  Colonial  Records. 


62  COLONIAL    COINS. 

As  this  law  apparently  sought  a  supply  of  the  lowest  denomination  of  silver  coins, 
proportioned  to  the  other,  viz. :  50  per  cent,  of  the  whole  amount  coined  the  first  year, 
and,  subsequently,  only  20  per  cent,  during  the  existence  of  the  law,  it  is  only 
generous  to  infer  that  that  was  the  full  and  fair  extent  of  the  motive  for  enacting  it. 
If,  however,  as  some  have  surmised,  none  of  the  oak-tree  coins  were  issued  till  this 
enactment,  and  that  they  were  then  coined  for  the  first  time,  with  the  peculiar  emblem 
of  the  oak,  from  a  motive  of  expediency,  calculated,  by  its  reference  to  an  important 
circumstance  in  the  life  of  Charles  II.,  to  appease  him  for  an  invasion  of  his  prero- 
gative, we  can  see  no  ground  for  such  a  conjecture,  except  the  practicability  of  such  an 
act  under  the  law  —  the  two-penny  pieces  bearing  date  1662,  and  all  others  of  the  oak- 
tree  emissions  being  dated  in  1652. 

That  the  oalc-tree  coins  were,  therefore,  first  issued  under  this  law,  except  the  two- 
penny pieces,  or  that  the  motive  for  the  law  was  deception,  is  very  far  from  being  our 
impression ;  for,  though  the  colonists  were  at  all  times,  in  view  of  their  position,  con- 
ciliating in  their  policy,  and  often  manifested  it  by  special  gifts  to  the  king,  still  we  should 
be  very  reluctant,  from  mere  inference,  to  impute  the  coinage  of  the  oak-tree  currency 
to  a  collusion  between  them  and  the  Governor  of  Nova  Scotia,  and  for  such  a  purpose 
as  mere  suspicion  supplies  —  the  bold  and  fearless  act  of  the  colonists  in  establishing  a 
mint,  or  coining  money  at  all,  being  ample  refutation  of  any  such  assumption  or 
charge  against  them.  Their  descendants  certainly  indicated  that  they  had  received 
no  such  training  at  the  hands  of  their  ancestors,  as  their  open  and  manly  defence  of 
their  natural  rights  against  unjust  authority  clearly  proves. 

It  is  clearly  established  that  the  oak-tree  penny  piece  is  without  legal  authority  for 
its  emission,  it  being  of  modern  manufacture ;  for,  though  a  law  was  enacted  for  its 
coinage,  it  was  never  carried  into  execution  by  the  mint.  We  have  seen  an  entire  series 
of  the  oak-tree  coins,  from  the  penny  up  to  the  shilling.  They  are  made  of  sterling 
silver,  are  well  calculated  to  deceive  even  good  judges,  and  are  as  eagerly  sought  for 
as  the  genuine,  for  specimens.  The  pine-tree  coins  have,  also,  been  counterfeited, 
having  been  cast  in  silver;  the  method  of  their  manufacture  being  easily  detected 
by  the  application  of  the  lens. 

The  legend,  on  the  pine-tree  shilling,  differs  in  the  abbreviation,  and,  also,  in  the 
mint-marks.  We  illustrate  the  former,  viz. :  AN  :  DO  :  ,  AN  :  DOM  :  ,  ANO  :  DOM  : 
&c.  In  some  specimens  of  the  latter,  the  rose  is  composed  of  four,  five,  six,  eight,  and 
in  one  instance  we  have  seen  nine  dots,  which,  composing  the  circles,  are  both  round 
and  oval. 


COLONIAL    COINS.  63 

Good  Samaritan  Shilling.  -j^ 

Device. — Group  of  the  Good  Samaritan ;  over  it,  "  fac-simile."  1652. 

ie^m(^.— MASATHYSETS  IN. 
Reverse. — Smooth. 

It  i8  stated  that  there  is  a  variety  of  this  coin,  having  a  reverse  thus :  in  the 

field,  "1652,"  numerals  "XII.,"  and  under  it  O. 
Legend.— ''o  o  o  o  o  o -ENGLAND  AE"." 

.      (See  Plate  VI.,  Figure  12.) 

This  shilling,  impressed  with  the  group  illustrating  the  "  Good  Samaritan,"  which  is 
in  the  Pembroke  collection  in  England,  and  engraved  in  Volume  xiv.  p.  4,  of  the 
Pembroke  Museum,  is  noticed  by  both  Snelling  and  Ruding,  who  threw  some  doubts 
upon  its  authenticity,  as  ever  having  been  issued  by  any  legal  authority,  in  its  present 
form,  as  a  coin  or  currency. 

From  all  the  information  we  have  been  able  to  collect  relative  to  it,  we  have 
concluded  that  it  was  a  pine-tree  shilling,  the  tree  removed  by  scraping  it  down  to  a 
plain  surface,  and  the  "  group"  then  engraved  in  the  circle  formerly  surrounding  the 
tree.  It  is  not  uncommon  to  find  coins  thus  mutilated  or  changed,  and  hence  bearing 
some  curious  device  or  legend.  The  reverse  noticed  above,  taken  from  a  drawing,  is, 
as  connected  with  this  piece,  inexplicable  to  us. 

We  have  given  a  description  of  this  coin  in  all  its  details,  because  it  has  been  the 
subject  of  so  much  attraction,  and,  also,  because  it  occupies  a  place  in  a  very  celebrated 
collection. 

MARYLAND   CURRENCY. 

Lord  Baltimore  Shilling. 

Device. — A  profile  bust  of  Lord  Baltimore,  facing  to  the  left ;  the  head  unadorned, 

and  the  neck  uncovered.     Mint-mark,  a  cross  Patee.  1659. 

Legend.— QAS,QJLJY^.  DNS.  TERRJE-MARLE.  &CT. 
'Reverse. — Arms  of  the  Palatinate,  surmounted  by  a  crown  with  XII.  on  the  side  of  the 

face  of  the  coin. 
ie^g/K?.— CRESCITE.  ET.  MVLTIPLICAMINI. 

(Sizes.     See  Plate  VL,  Figure  13.) 

LoED  Baltimore  Sixpence. 

Device. — A  profile  bust  of  Lord  Baltimore,  facing  to  the  left ;  the  head  unadorned,  and 

the  neck  uncovered.     Mint-mark,  a  cross  Patee. 
Legend.— GKF.GYLWB.  DNS.  TERR^-MARI^.  &CT. 


64  COLONIAL    COINS. 

Reverse. — Arms  of  the  Palatinate,  surmounted  by  a  crown,  with  VI.  on  one  side  of  the 

face  of  the  coin. 
ie^ewci.— CRESCITE.  ET.  MYLTIPLICAMINL 

(Size  7.     See  Plate  VL,  Figure  14.) 

Lord  Baltimore  Groat. 

Device. — A  profile  bust  of  Lord  Baltimore,  facing  to  the  left ;  the  head  unadorned,  and  the 

neck  uncovered.     Mint-mark,  a  cross  Patee. 
Legend.— CK^CILIY^.  DNS.  TERR^-MARLE.  &CT. 
Reverse. — Arms  of  the  Palatinate,  surmounted  by  a  crown,  with  IV.  on  one  side  of  the 

face  of  the  coin. 
Xg^cwd— CRESCITE.  ET.  MYLTIPLICAMINl. 

(Size  4.     See  Plate  VL,  Figure  15.) 

Cecil,  Lord  Baltimore  Penny. 

Device. — ^A  bust  of  Lord  Baltimore,  facing  to  the  left.     Mint-mark,  the  cross  Patee  on 

both  sides, 
i^^ewc^.— CAECILrVS.  DNS.  TERR^-MARLE.  &CT. 

Reverse. — Two  flags  issuing  out  of  a  ducal  coronet,  the  crest  of  Lord  Baltimore. 
Legend.— im^ARYM.  TERR^-MARLE. 

(Size  5.     See  Plate  VL,  Figure  16.) 

The  silver  groat  and  copper  penny  we  have  described,  are  very  rare.  Those  from 
which  Mr.  Ruding  was  permitted  to  take  drawings,  and  we  have  copied  them,  are 
now  in  the  cabinet  of  James  Bindley,  Esq.,  of  England. 

We  have  herewith  compiled,  from  sources  to  which  we  have  given  credit,  some 
incidents  in  the  history  of  the  Maryland  colony,  which  may  prove  to  be  interesting, 
and,  at  the  same  time,  aid  to  fix  the  attention  more  particularly  upon  the  main  object, 
its  currency. 

Among  those  who  became  interested  in  the  London  or  Virginia  Company,  under  its 
second  charter  in  1609,  was  Sir  George  Calvert,  afterwards  the  founder  of  Maryland. 
He  was  early  engaged  in  the  schemes  of  colonization  of  those  times,  and,  upon  the 
dissolution  of  the  Virginia  Company,  of  which  he  had  been  a  member,  he  was  named 
by  the  king  —  James  I. —  one  of  the  Royal  Commissioners  to  whom  the  government 
of  that  colony  was  entrusted.^ 

Hitherto,  he  had  been  a  Protestant,^  but  in  1624  he  renounced  the  Church  of 
England,  in  which  he  had  been  bred,  and  embraced  the  faith  of  the  Roman  Catholic 
Church.     His  conscientious  scruples  determined  him  to  hold  no  longer  the  office  of 

^  Bozan.  '  Burnet,  Fuller,  &c. 


JiifR..sfjithal.  Lidi  Pliilad^. 


COLONIAL    COINS.  65 

Secretary  of  State,  which  would  place  him  in  an  unpleasant  attitude  to  those  whose 
faith  he  had  adopted,  and  he  tendered  his  resignation  to  the  king,  informing  him  at 
the  same  time,  that  he  had  become  a  Roman  Catholic,  and  that  he  felt,  in  consequence 
of  the  discordance  between  the  Established  Church  and  the  faith  he  had  adopted, 
unwilling  longer  to  discharge  the  duties  of  the  office.'  The  king,  pleased  with  his 
candor,  accepted  his  resignation,  but  continued  him  as  a  member  of  his  Privy  Council 
for  life,  and  soon  after  created  him  Lord  Baltimore. 

Sectarian  animosity  at  this  time  ran  high,  and  as  Sir  George  Calvert  deprecated 
this  state  of  things,  and  had  no  taste  for  being  an  active  participant  in  it,  he  determined 
to  leave  England,  and  found  a  new  State  exempt  from  this  feeling,  and  where  every 
man  could  worship  God  according  to  his  own  conscience,  and  in  perfect  peace  and 
security.'* 

Accordingly,  he  embarked  for  Virginia,  with  the  intention  of  settling  within 
the  limits  of  that  colony,  or  more  probably  to  explore  the  uninhabited  country  1628. 
upon  its  borders,  with  a  view  to  secure  a  grant  of  it  from  the  king.  Upon  his 
arrival  within  the  jurisdiction  of  the  colony,  the  authorities  tendered  to  him  the  oath 
of  allegiance  and  supremacy,  to  which,  with  his  religious  views,  he  could  not  subscribe. 
Lord  Baltimore  framed  an  oath  of  allegiance,  which  he  and  his  followers  were  willing 
to  accept,  but  it  was  rejected.  He  set  sail,  and  commenced  the  exploration  of  the 
Chesapeake.  He  was  pleased  with  the  beautiful  and  well-wooded  country,  which 
surrounded  the  noble  inlets  and  indentations  of  the  great  bay,  and  determined  there 
to  found  his  State,  being  assured  that  he  had  found  a  territory  possessing  all  the 
elements  of  future  prosperity. 

He  returned  to  England  to  obtain  a  grant  from  Charles  I.,  who  had  succeeded  his 
father  upon  the  throne.  Remembering  Lord  Baltimore's  relations  to  his  father,  and 
perhaps  aided  by  the  intercessions  of  Henrietta  Maria,  his  Roman  Catholic  queen, 
Charles  directed  the  patent  to  be  issued.  It  was  prepared  by  Lord  Baltimore  himself, 
but  before  it  was  finally  executed,  he  died,  and  the  patent  was  delivered  to  his  son 
Cecelius,  who  succeeded  to  his  designs  as  well  as  his  titles  and  estates.  The  charter 
was  issued  on  the  20th  of  June,  1632,  and  the  new  province  was  named  in  honor  of  the 
queen,  Terra-MarisB -— Maryland.  The  charter  was  a  solemn  grant  from  the  king  to 
Lord  Baltimore,  his  heirs,  and  assigns,  with  extensive  jurisdiction  and  powers  of 
government  over  it.  The  king  reserved  to  himself  one-fifth  of  the  gold  and  silver 
which  might  be  found  in  the  province,  and  the  yearly  tribute  of  two  Indian  arrows. 

With  a  noble  territory,  the  rights  and  prosperity  of  his  future  State  seconded  by  a 

*  Fuller.  »  McMahon. 


66  COLONIAL    COINS. 

liberal  charter,  Lord  Baltimore  prepared  to  establish  his  first  permanent  settlement  in 
Maryland.  He  fitted  out  two  vessels,  which  he  named  the  "Ark"  and  the  "Dove," 
and  collected  a  body  of  two  hundred  emigrants,  nearly  all  of  them  of  his  own  faith, 
and  gentlemen  of  fortune  and  respectability,  who,  like  himself  and  his  father,  wished 
to  rear  up  their  altars  with  freedom  in  the  wilderness.^  The  colonists  were  commanded 
by  Lord  Calvert,  whom  the  Lord  Proprietary,  his  brother,  had  appointed  Governor  of 
Maryland  —  the  Lord  Proprietary  intending  to  remain  in  England  for  a  time,  to 
superintend  in  person  the  interests  of  the  settlement,  and  to  send  out  additional 
emigrants. 

November  22d,  being  St.  Cecilia's  day,  the  "Ark"  and  the  "  Dove"  weighed 
1633.  anchor  from  Cowles  in  the  Isle  of  Wight;  and  on  the  24th  day  of  February, 
they  came  in  sight  of  Point  Comfort  in  Virginia,  and  after  spending  eight  or 
nine  days  in  the  colony  of  Virginia,  again  set  sail  on  the  8th  of  March,  steering  for 
the  mouth  of  the  Potomac,  to  which  they  gave  the  name  of  St.  Gregory.  They  had 
now  arrived  at  the  land  of  their  adoption,  were  delighted  with  the  wide  expanse  of 
the  noble  bay,  and  the  majestic  river  upon  whose  shores  they  were  about  to  rear  up  a 
State,  and  they  returned  thanks  to  God  for  the  beautiful  land  he  had  given  them  — 
for  this  was  Maryland. 

An  impression  prevails  that  the  colony  of  Maryland  had  the  honor  of  a  mint,  and 
that  the  coins  we  have  described  were  its  products.  The  following,  from  a  paper  read 
before  the  Historical  Society  of  Maryland  by  S.  F.  Streeter,  Esq.,  sets  the  question 
at  rest. 

"At  a  counsell  held  at  Bush  wood,  Mr.  Slye's  howse  in  St.  Mary's  county,  on  Saturday, 
the  3d  of  March,  1659-60, 

"  Present :  the  Gov.  Josiah  Fendall,  Esq.,  Philip  Calvert,  Esq.,  Secretary,  Thomas 
Gerrard,  Esq.,  Coll.  John  Price,  Robert  Clarke,  Esq.,  Col.  Nathaniell  Utye,  Baker 
Brooke,  Esq.,  Doct.  Luke  Barber. 

"  Then  was  read  his  L'd'p's  letter,  directed  to  his  Lieutenant  and  Counsell,  dated 
12th  of  October,  and  directed  to  the  Secretary,  touching  the  Mint,  as  followeth,  viz. : 

"After  my  hearty  commendations,  &c.  Having,  with  great  pains  and  charge, 
procured  Necessaries  for  a  particular  coyne  to  be  currant  in  Maryland,  a  sample 
whereof,  in  a  peece  of  a  shilling,  a  sixpence,  and  a  groate,  I  herewith  send  you.  I 
recommend  it  to  you  to  promote,  all  you  can,  the  dispersing  it,  and  by  Proclamation 
to  make  currant  within  Maryland,  for  all  payments  upon  contracts  or  causes  happening 
or  arising  after  a  day  to  be  by  you  limited  in  the  said  Proclamation.     And  to  procure 

'  Burnap,  Bowman,  and  McMahon. 


COLONIAL    COINS.  67 

an  act  of  Assembly  for  the  punishing  of  such  as  shall  counterfeit  the  said  coyne,  or 
otherwise  offend  in  that  behalfe,  according  to  the  form  of  an  act  recommended  by  me 
last  year  to  my  Governour  and  Secretary ;  or  as  neere  it  as  you  can  procure  from  the 
Assembly,  and  to  give  me  your  advice  next  yeare  touching  what  you  think  best  to  be 
further  done  in  that  matter  touching  coyne ;  for  if  encouradgement  be  giveij  by  the 
good  success  of  it  this  yeare,  there  wilbe  abundance  of  adventurers  in  it  the  next  yeare." 

With  this  communication  was  also  forwarded  the  following  letter  to  his  brother 
Philip,  then  Secretary  of  State. 

"  To  Philip  Calvert,  Esq.,  at  St.  Mary's,  m  Maryland. 

"  I  sent  a  sample  of  the  Maryland  money,  with  the  directions  for  procuring  it  to 

pass,  because  I  understood,  by  letters  this  yeare  from  the  Governour,  and  you  and 

others,  that  there  was  no  doubt  but  the  people  there  would  accept  of  it,  which  if  we 

find  they  do,  there  wilbe  meanes  found  to  supply  you  all  there  with  money  enough ; 

but  though  it  would  be  a  very  great  advantage  to  the  colony  that  it  should  pass 

currant  there,  and  an  utter  discouradgement  for  the  future  supply  of  any  more,  if  there 

be  not  a  certain  establishment  this  yeare,  and  an  assurance  of  its  being  vented  and 

currant  there,  yet  it  must  not  be  imposed  upon  the  people,  but  by  a  Law  there  made 

by  their  consents  in  a  General  Assembly,  which  I  pray  faile  not  to  signify  to  the 

Governour  and  Councell  there  together  from  me,  by  shewing  them  this  letter  from 

Your  most  affectionate  Brother, 

C.  Baltemore." 
London,  12  October,  1659. 

"  Ten  days  after  the  reception  of  his  Lordship's  letter,  and  the  discussion  in  council 
of  the  question  of  the  best  mode  of  introducing  his  new  coinage  among  the  people, 
Governor  Fendall,  with  a  part  of  the  council,  attempted  to  revolutionize  the  province, 
and,  throwing  off  all  dependence  upon  Lord  Baltimore,  to  concentrate  all  power  in 
themselves.  They  were  probably  incited  to  this  by  the  unsettled  state  of  affairs  in 
England ;  but  they  soon  found  there  was  no  hope  of  success,  and  were  glad  to  give  in 
their  submission  to  the  newly  restored  king,  and  to  Lord  Baltimore  as  the  lawful 
Proprietary  of  the  province. 

"  The  confusion  that  followed  this  wild  attempt  of  Fendall  and  his  party,  of  course 
rendered  it  impossible  to  carry  out  the  proposed  plan  in  reference  to  a  specie  currency. 
According  to  his  Lordship's  instructions,  the  coins  were  not  to  be  forced  upon  the 
people ;  on  the  contrary,  he  would  not  consent  to  their  introduction  until  the  people, 


68  COLONIAL    COINS. 

by  their  representatives,  had  not  only  expressed  their  assent,  but  had  even  invited 
their  emission. 

"  Philip  Calvert  received  his  commission  to  act  as  Governor  in  November,  1660,  and 
complied  as  promptly  as  possible  with  the  wishes  and  instructions  of  his  brother.  In 
April  following,  an  Assembly  was  held  at  St.  John's,  and,  at  his  instance,  an  act  was 
drawn  up  and  passed  '  for  setting  up  a  mint  within  the  province  of  Maryland.' 

''After  a  preamble,  setting  forth  the  fact  that  the  want  of  money  is  a  great 
hindrance  to  the  advancement  of  the  colony  in  trade  and  prosperity,  the  Burgesses 
agree  to  the  following  enactments  : 

I.  "  That  his  lordship  be  petitioned  to  set  up  a  mint  for  the  coinage  of  money  within 
the  province. 

II.  "  That  the  money  coined  therein  be  of  as  good  silver  as  English  sterling  money. 

III.  "  That  every  shilling  so  coined  weigh  above  nine-pence  in  such  silver ;  and 
other  pieces  in  proportion. 

IV.  "  That  the  offences  of  clipping,  scaling,  counterfeiting,  washing,  or  in  any  way 
diminishing  said  coin,  be  punishable  with  death,  and  forfeiture  of  lands,  goods,  &c.,  to 
the  Lord  Proprietary. 

V.  "  That  his  lordship  receive  said  coins  in  payment  for  rents  and  all  amounts  due 
to  him. 

"  These  proceedings  were  transmitted  to  the  Proprietary  in  England ;  upon  receipt 
of  which,  he  prepared  to  send  to  the  colony  a  sufficient  quantity  of  coin  to  supply  its 
wants.  The  main  object  was,  at  once,  to  throw  a  considerable  amount  into  circulation, 
and  to  this  end,  the  aid  of  the  Assembly  was  again  invoked. 

"At  the  session  of  April,  1662,  an  act  was  passed,  requiring  every  householder  and 
freeman  *  to  take  up  ten  shillings  per  poll  of  the  newly  issued  coin,  for  every  taxable 
under  their  charge  and  custody,  and  pay  for  the  same  in  good  casked  tobacco,  at  two- 
pence per  pound,  to  be  paid  upon  tender  of  the  said  sums  of  money,  proportionally 
for  each  respective  family.' 

"  The  effect  of  this  measure  was  to  cause  a  forced  exchange  of  sixty  pounds  of 
tobacco  by  every  tithable  for  ten  shillings  of  the  new  coinage;  and,  as  there  were  at 
least  five  thousand  tithables  then  in  the  province,  this  act  alone,  if  it  were  carried 
fully  into  effect,  must  have  thrown  into  circulation  coin  to  the  amount  of  twenty-five 
hundred  pounds  sterling. 

"  It  is  probable  that  the  new  emission  proved  acceptable  to  the  people,  as  it  must 
have  greatly  facilitated  exchanges ;  yet  it  by  no  means  superseded  tobacco  as  an  article 
of  currency.  That  still  continued  largely  in  use,  especially  in  important  transactions ; 
and  many  of  the  public  dues  were  still  collected  in  tobacco,  and  not  in  coin.     What 


COLONIAL    COINS  69 

was  the  amount  of  this  new  currency  at  any  time  after,  we  have  no  means  of 
ascertaining;  neither  do  we  know  when  it  began  to  be  disused.  Nearly  ten  years 
after,  in  1671,  Ogilby  states  there  were  in  circulation  in  the  colony,  beside  English 
and  other  foreign  coins,  some  of  his  Lordship's  own  coins,  as  groats,  sixpences,  and 
shillings. 

"  From  the  title  of  the  act  of  Assembly  of  1661,  in  Bacon's  laws  of  Maryland,  some 
have  inferred  that  a  mint  was  established,  and  that  the  coinage  was  actually  done  in 
Maryland ;  but  there  can  be  no  doubt  that  the  coins  were  struck  in  England,  under 
the  supervision  of  the  Lord  Proprietary,  and  transmitted  to  the  Governor,  as  circum- 
stances made  it  necessary  or  convenient." 

That  the  people  of  this  colony,  like  those  of  every  other  of  English  origin  on  this 
continent,  were  restive  under  any  other  authority  than  their  own,  is  evidenced  by  the 
attempt  of  Governor  Fendall  and  his  associates  to  revolutionize  and  rid  the  colony  of 
its  dependence  upon  the  Lord  Proprietary.  We  think  it  not  improbable,  had  Fendall 
succeeded,  the  colony  would  have  had  a  mint  of  its  own,  and  many  other  advantages 
for  which  they  were  dependent  upon  Lord  Baltimore. 

Lord  Baltimore,  in  all  his  acts,  manifested  great  kindness,  consideration,  and  justice, 
toward  the  colonists;  but  the  atmosphere  in  this  continent  —  then,  as  now  —  appears 
to  have  been  unsuited  to  any  other  relation,  between  men,  than  that  of  entire  freedom, 
which  was,  and  continues  to  be,  apparently  uncompromisable  upon  any  conditions, 
or  for  any  considerations  whatever. 

Tin  Piece. 

Device. — King  James  II.  on  horseback,  with  his  name  and  titles.  1690. 

Reverse.— VXL.  24.  PART.  REAL.  HISPAN.  around  four  shields  disposed  as  a 
cross,  bearing  the  arms  of  England,  Scotland,  Ireland,  and  France. 
rSee  Plate  Vn.,  Figure  1.) 

This  piece  was  issued  by  James  II.  for  the  American  plantations,  where  the  Spanish 
dollar  chiefly  circulated,  with  its  parts,  reals,  and  half-reals. 

In  1718,  under  George  I.,  and,  subsequently,  under  George  II.,  a  similar  issue  was 
made  for  British  purposes  in  the  East  Indies.  They  were  termed  "  Tutanique  pice," 
were  of  tin  and  very  light.  The  obverse  bore  a  large  crown,  above  which  are  the 
letters  G.  R.,  and  below,  BOMB.  The  legend,  "Auspicio  Regis  et  Senatus  Angliae," 
with  the  date,  "1718,"  occupied  the  whole  reverse.  There  were  also  half-pice,  which 
have  on  one  side,  "  1739,  i  P.,"  and  on  the  other,  E.  I. 

Though  we  have  British  authorities  to  show  that  this  currency  was  prepared  for 
the  American  colonies,  still  it  could  not  have  been  received  with  much  favor ;  as  we 


70  COLONIAL    COINS. 

have  no  knowledge  of  the  existence  in  this  country  of  a  single  specimen  which  has 
not  latterly  been  imported. 

The  mines  of  Cornwall,  furnishing,  as  they  did,  to  the  ancient  Britons,  who  used  tin 
as  currency,  an  abundant  supply  of  the  raw  material,  the  British  government 
undoubtedly  came  to  the  conclusion,  not  only  that  the  operation  would  be  a  profitable 
one,  but  that  tin  money  was  good  enough  for  such  "  outside  barbarians"  as  the  American 
colonists  and  the  natives  of  its  East  Indian  possessions. 

Carolina  Half-penny. 

1694.         Device. — An  elephant  standing,  and  facing  the  left. 

Reverse. — God  preserve  Carolina,  and  the  Lord  Proprietors. 
Exergue. — 1694. 

(Size  8.     See  Plate  Vn.,  Figure  2.) 

This  coin  made  its  appearance  according  to  the  date,  1694,  during  the  reign  of 
William  and  Mary,  and  has  no  claim  to  be  of  domestic  manufacture.  It  was 
undoubtedly  intended  as  a  currency,  which  it  became  for  the  Carolina  colonies,  and 
which,  at  that  time,  had  made  some  progress  toward  stability.  It  is  composed  of  brass, 
and  from  its  resemblance  to  the  London  half-penny,  is  presumed  to  be  of  the  same 
origin  —  the  latter  having  been  engraved,  as  Snelling  states,  by  the  much  celebrated 
Roctiers.  The  specimens  —  four  in  number  —  that  have  come  under  our  observation 
are  in  an  excellent  state  of  preservation. 

The  London  half-penny,  like  many  other  coins,  is  mysterious  in  its  inception,  or  the 
original  purposes  intended  to  be  subserved  by  it,  except  we  impute  it  both  to  necessity 
and  speculation ;  the  former  of  which  very  naturally  stimulated  the  latter  with  but 
little  regard  to  either  law  or  prerogative. 

The  following  description  and  history  of  the  London  half-penny  may  not  prove  to 
be  uninteresting  in  this  connection. 

Device. — An  elephant  standing,  and  facing  the  left. 

Reverse. — The  shield  with  the  Cross  of  St.  George,  and  sword  of  St.  Paul  in  the  first 
quarter,  as  borne  by  the  arms  of  the  city  of  London.  A  star  above  and  below 
the  shield,  and  the  name  London  divided,  and  placed  on  either  side  of  the  shield. 

This  type  is  very  rare,  and  it  appears  in  a  half-penny  of  Charles  II. 

The  reverse  of  another  type  has  the  same  shield  —  the  upper  star  wanting  —  the 
legend  being  London,  God  preserve.  The  elephant  on  the  obverse  is  the  same  in  all, 
and  it  has  been  suggested  that  it  was  the  badge  of  the  Royal  African  colony.  Snelling 
thought  they  were  struck  for  the  West  India  colonies,  but  the  arms  of  the  city  of 


COLONIAL    COINS.  71 

London  on  the  reverse  would  raise  a  doubt  relative  to  the  correctness  of  any  such 
thought  or  conclusion.  Coins  were  struck  for  Bombay  in  1678,  and  as  the  description 
of  the  same  is  unknown,  it  may  help  to  solve  the  mystery  of  the  elephant  upon  the 
half-penny,  such  symbol  being  peculiarly  appropriate  in  connection  with  the  British 
East  India  enterprises  of  that  day. 

The  Carolina  half-penny,  as  we  have  described  it,  is  the  only  light  thrown  upon 
a  Carolina  currency  during  the  colonial  administration,  except  that,  on  the  14th  of 
July,  1748,  Sir  Alexander  Cuming,  Bart.,  presented  a  memorial  to  the  Right  Hon. 
Henry  Pelham,  &c.,  &c.,  in  which  he  proposed,  "in  order  to  preserve  the  dependency 
of  the  British  plantations  in  North  America  upon  Great  Britain,  that  the  coins  of 
Great  Britain  should  be  made  the  lawful  current  money  of  the  said  plantations,  and 
also  as  the  proper  meffsure  of  value,  not  only  there,  but  in  all  countries  depending  on 
the  British  crown  and  nation;  and  that  £200,000  sterling  should  be  coined  at  the 
Tower  for  that  purpose,  which  sum  was  to  be  made  the  basis  of  a  Provincial  Bank  for 
all  the  British  plantations  in  America,  in  order  that  it  may  have  the  effect  of  abolishing 
the  local  currency  of  New  England  and  Carolina,  and  also  the  clipped  Spanish  money 
in  Jamaica  and  elsewhere."  *  Cuming's  memorial  failed,  being  considered  visionary, 
and  the  author  an  enthusiast. 

This  proposition,  viewed  from  this  point  of  time,  was  far  from  being  visionary,  while, 
at  the  same  time,  its  author's  national  enthusiasm  was  not  only  sagacious,  but 
commendable ;  for  we  can  now  see,  that  if  the  colonies  had  been  bound  to  the  mother 
country  by  so  admirably  a  constructed  money  power,  their  extrication  from  the  political 
power  of  the  mother  country  would  have  been  more  difficult ;  as  there  is  no 
"  entangling  alliance"  so  hard  to  sever,  between  man  and  man,  as  that  of  a  pecuniary 
character,  with  the  intimately  selfish  and  friendly  relations  which  it  begets. 

We  also  find  that,  in  1753,  a  proposal  was  made  to  the  mother  country,  by  Arthur 
Dobbs,  Esq.,  Governor  of  North  Carolina,  to  coin  copper  money  for  the  colony,  which 
was  to  consist  of  half-penny,  one  penny,  and  two-penny  pieces  of  its  currency,  which 
was  in  the  proportion  of  its  value  to  that  of  England,  as  four  to  three.  The  quantity 
to  be  determined  by  the  Governor  and  Council,  but  not  to  exceed  fifty  tons.  The 
colony  to  deliver  the  copper  at  the  mint,  to  pay  all  expenses  and  fees  attending  the 
coinage,  and  to  be  permitted  to  have  such  a  device  as  should  be  thought  proper. 

The  mother  government,  it  appears,  entertained  the  proposition,  as  it  was  sent  by 
the  Treasury  to  the  officers  of  the  mint  for  their  consideration,  who  suggested  that  one- 
half  of  the  amount  coined  should  be  in  half-pence,  of  such  a  size  as  that  sixty-one 

*  Lyon's  Environs  of  London,  vol.  iv.  p.  21. 


i'^ 


COLONIAL    COINS. 


pieces  should  make  one  pound  avoirdupois ;  that  one-fourth  should  consist  of  two-penny 
pieces,  and  the  other  fourth  of  one  penny  pieces,  of  a  proportional  weight  to  the  half- 
pence. The  remedy  to  be  one-forty-fifth  part  of  a  pound  avoirdupois,  and  that,  not  by 
design,  but  accident.  The  coinage  to  be  performed  at  the  same  price  as  those  for 
Ireland,  viz. :  five  pence  per  pound  to  the  master  of  the  mint,  and  twenty  shillings 
per  one  hundred  pounds  to  the  comptroller.  The  proposition  as  expressed  to  be 
observed,  as  any  increase  of  half-pence  would  increase  the  expense. 

One  side  of  the  different  coins  to  have  the  king's  effigies,  with  GEORGIVS  II.  REX.; 
on  the  reverse,  the  arms  of  North  Carolina  inscribed  SEPT.  CAROLINA,  and  under 
it  the  date  of  the  year.^  This  proposition  of  the  North  Carolina  Governor,  though 
well  matured,  was  never  carried  into  execution.  It  was  undoubtedly  fortunate  for 
the  colonies  that  this,  and  similar  schemes  for  apparently  facilitating  the  internal 
industry  and  commerce  of  the  country,  failed  to  be  readily  and  zealously  seconded  by 
the  mother  country ;  as  it  had  the  effect  to  throw  them  more  particularly  upon  their 
own  resources,  which  gradually  induced  a  spirit  of  self-dependence;  subsequently, 
brought  about  a  separation  from  the  parent  government,  and,  finally,  confirmed  them 
as  an  independent  nation  and  people.. 

New  England  Half-penny. 

1694.        Device. — An  elephant  facing  to  the  left. 
Reverse. — God  preserve  New  England. 
Exergue. — 1694. 

This  coin  made  its  appearance  in  the  early  part  of  the  year  1694,  in  the  reign  of 
William  and  Mary.  The  object  of  its  emission  or  the  place  of  its  coinage  is  not 
positively  known;  but  it  is  supposed  to  have  been  got  up  in  London  as  a  private 
enterprise,  originating  —  which,  cannot  be  told  —  either  in  London  or  the  colonies. 

The  speculation  must  have  been  unsuccessful,  as  it  cannot  be  found  in  any  of  the 
cabinets  in  this  country,  which  would  not  have  been  the  case  if  it  had  ever  acquired 
the  character  of  a  currency.  It  was  made  of  brass,  and  the  obverse  agreed  precisely 
with  the  London  half-penny.  This  coin  is  similar  to  that  struck  for  Carolina,  and 
which  will  be  found  recorded  under  its  proper  head. 

^  Snelling's  views  of  coins  struck  in  the  West  India  colonies,  p.  40. 


COLONIAL    COINS.  U 


Louisiana  Copper. 


-u 


Device. —  <^-    L.  L.  crossed  diagonally — probably  denoting  Louis  and  Louis- 
iana —  surmounted  by  a  crown.  1721-22. 
Legend.— '^IT  '  NOMEN  •  DOMINI  •  BENEDICTUM. 
iJeverse.— COLONIES  •  FRANCOISES. 
Exergue.— 1121.     H. 

(Size  7.     See  Plate  VIL,  Figure  3.) 

Of  this  coin  there  were  four  types  and  six  varieties,  three  of  which  were  issued  in 
1721,  and  one  in  1722.  This  coin  was  struck  in  France,  under  Louis  XV.,  for  the 
colony  of  Louisiana,  and  was  ordered  to  be  paid  to  the  king's  troops,  and  also  to  be  a 
legal  tender  at  the  "  India  Company's"  stores.  Though  these  and  other  coins  were 
sent  over  in  comparatively  large  quantities  for  the  expenses  of  the  colonial  government, 
this  means  of  remittance,  from  thence  to  the  mother  country  —  the  agricultural 
products  being  limited  —  caused  it  to  be  either  exported  or  hoarded,  nearly  as  fast  as 
received.  The  usual  embarrassments  flowing  from  such  a  state  of  affairs,  were  imposed 
upon  the  colonists,  and  they  found  themselves  deprived,  in  a  great  measure,  of  a 
circulating  medium. 

This  state  of  affairs  continued  a  number  of  years,  when,  by  an  edict  of  Louis  XV., 
which  bears  date  the  19th  day  of  September,  1735,  the  depreciated  paper  money  issued 
by  the  "  India  Company,"  and  then  in  circulation,  was  called  in,  and  an  emission  of 
"card  money" — hillet  des  cartes  —  to  the  amount  of  two  hundred  thousand  livres,  was 
substituted  for  it. 

This  "  card  money"  was  ordered  to  be  received  at  the  king's  warehouse  for 
ammunition  or  anything  else  sold  there ;  or  in  exchange  for  drafts  on  the  Treasury  of 
the  Marine  in  France,  and  it  was  also  a  lawful  tender.  Cards  were  issued,  representing 
the  denominational  sums  of  twenty,  fifteen,  and  five  livres ;  fifty,  twenty-five,  twelve 
and  a  half,  and  six  and  a  quarter  sous,  thus  assimilating  and  accommodating  the 
currency  to  that  of  the  British  colonies,  viz. :  four,  three,  and  two  dollars,  and  one 
dollar ;  halves,  quarters,  and  eighths  of  a  dollar. 

Any  denomination  of  card  money  of  fifty  sous  and  upwards  required  the  signatures 
of  the  Governor  and  Ordonateur  of  the  province  —  the  others,  merely  the  paraphe  or 
flourish  of  those  ofiicials. 

Nine  years  elapsed,  and  the  royal  promises  to  pay  became  as  worthless  as  their  more 
modest  predecessors.  The  depreciation  was  so  great,  that  three  hundred  livres  of  paper 
would  command  but  one-third  of  that  amount  in  coin. 

The  result  of  paper  money  in  Louisiana  was  the  same  as  in  all  other  provinces, 
10 


74  COLONIAL    COINS. 

colonies,  States,  or  nations,  under  similar  circumstances.  A  subject  State  or  nation  — 
so  by  force  or  voluntary  policy  —  must  necessarily  sacrifice  the  fruits  of  its  advantages, 
labor,  and  intellect,  to  the  country  or  government  to  which  it  occupies  such  a  relation. 
Hence,  it  must  become  involved  in  debt ;  as  nothing  can  prevent  it  but  the  entire 
control  over,  and  diversification  of  its  labor,  so  that  it  may  be  independent  in  itself 
for  everything  which  its  means  will  not  enable  it  to  buy  abroad. 

It  is,  and  ever  has  been,  the  policy  of  parent  States,  towards  their  colonies,  to  render 
them  entirely  dependent  upon  them ;  and  hence  losing  sight  of  a  proper  economy  or 
mutual  interest,  they  have  driven  them,  as  in  the  case  of  the  British  colonies  in 
America,  to  a  resistance  which  eventuated  in  their  independence. 

All  depreciations  of  paper  money  are  based  upon  the  fact,  that  the  people  issuing  it 
have  not  provided  for  its  redemption  by  limiting  their  expenses,  whether  national  or 
individual,  to  their  income.  In  such  cases,  however,  they  are  only  proper  subjects  of 
sympathy,  where  their  condition,  being  such,  is  an  involuntary  one. 

On  the  27th  of  April,  the  Council  of  State  of  the  mother  country  declared  that  the 
condition  of  the  finances  of  the  province  was  prejudicial  to  the  finances  of  the 
government;  hence,  the  progress  of  commerce  and  the  welfare  of  the  colony.  It 
therefore  determined  to  call  in  the  card  money  at  the  rate  of  one  hundred  livres  for 
every  two  hundred  and  fifty  of  the  same  issued.  This  redemption  or  exchange  was 
not  through  the  medium  of  specie,  but  by  drafts  on  the  French  treasury,  subjecting 
the  holder  thereby  to  the  loss  of  a  discount  upon  the  same  for  ready  money.  It  was 
further  provided,  that  all  pasteboard  money,  not  brought  in  for  exchange  or  redemption 
within  two  months,  subsequent  to  the  promulgation  of  the  edict,  should  be  deemed  to 
be  irredeemable  and  void.  In  justification  of  this  high-handed  measure,  it  was  urged 
by  the  government  that  it  did  not  feel  under  obligations  to  redeem  these  notes  at  par, 
because  they  had  been  given  in  many  instances  to  meet  expenses  and  liquidate  claims, 
which  had  been  increased  in  proportion  to  the  actual  or  anticipated  depreciation  of 
the  currency  in  which  they  were  paid. 

It  is  related  of  Charles  Lamb,  that  upon  his  return  to  London,  from  a  visit  he  had 
been  making  in  Dublin,  he  was  asked  how  he  was  pleased  with  it  ?  His  reply  was, 
very  much ;  as  it  had  settled  a  question  which  had  previously  disturbed  his  mind,  and 
that  was,  what  the  beggars  of  London  did  with  their  old  clothes. 

Where  Texas  acquired  the  precedent,  and  the  reasons  for  refusing  to  pay  her  debt 
in  full,  is  now  equally  clear ;  as  her  statesmen  must  have  been  examining  the  cast  off 
habiliments  of  the  French  monarchy,  or  poring  over  the  dusty  volumes  of  her  Louisiana 
province's  history,  with  the  logic  of  which,  and  its  practical  application  by  Louis  XV. 
to  his  colonial  creditors,  they  must  have  been  particularly  impressed  and  well  pleased. 


COLONIAL    COINS.  75 

ROSA    AMERICANA.  ^ 

Penny  Piece. 

Device. — A  bust  of  George  I. ;  head  laureated,  and  facing  to  the  right ;  the  neck 

uncovered.  1722. 

Legend.— GEO^GIG^  •  D  :  G  :  MAG  :  BRI :  FRA  :  ET  •  HIB  :  REX 
Reverse. — A  large  full-blown  rose  in  the  centre  of  the  field. 
Legend.— RO^A  •  AMERICANA  •  1722. 
Exergue.— {JTJLE.  •  DULCI  • 

(Size  9.     See  Plate  VIL,  Figure  4.) 

Half-penny. 

Device. — A  bust  of  George  I. ;  head  laureated,  and  facing  to  the  right ;  the  neck  uncovered. 
Legend.— Q^ORGIV^  •  DEI  •  GRATIA  •  REX. 
Reverse. — A  large  full-blown  rose  in  the  centre  of  the  field. 
Legend.— RO^A  •  AMERICANA  v':  UTILE  •  DULCI  •  1722.     y, 

(Size  7.     See  Plate  VIL,  Figure  5.) 

Farthing. 

Device. — A  bust  of  Greorge  I. ;  head  laureated,  and  facing  to  the  right ;  the  neck  uncovered, 
iet^en^^.— GEORGIUS  •  DEI  •  GRATIA  •  REX. 
Reverse. — A  large  full-blown  rose  in  the  centre  of  the  field. 
Legend.— RO^A  •  AMERICANA  •  UTLLE  •  DULCI  •  1722.    ;*'; 

(Size  6.     See  Plate  Vn.,  Figure  6.) 

Penny  Piece. 

Device. — A  bust  of  George  I. ;  head  laureated,  and  facing  to  the  right ;   neck 

uncovered.  1723. 

ie^en(i.— GEORGIUS  •  D  :  G  :  MAG  :  BRI :  FRA  :  ET  •  HIB  :  REX. 
Reverse. — A  large  full-blown  rose  in  the  centre  of  the  field,  surmounted  by  the  crown. 
Legend.— 'RO^A.  •  AMERICANA  •  1723. 
Exergue.— VTILE  •  DULCI  • 

(Size  9.    See  Plate  VH.,  Figure  7.) 

Half-penny. 

Device. — A  bust  of  George  I. ;  head  laureated,  and  facing  to  the  right ;  neck  uncovered. 

Legend.— G^OUGIUS  •  DEI  •  GRATIA  •  REX. 

Reverse. — A  full-blown  rose  in  the  centre  of  the  field,  surmounted  by  the  crown. 

Legend.— ROSA  •  AMERICANA  •  1723. 

Exergue.— VTILE  •  DULCI  • 

(Size  7.     See  Plate  VIL,  Figure  8. 


76  COLONIAL    COINS. 


Farthing. 


Device. — A  bust  of  George  I. ;  head  laureated,  and  facing  to  the  right;  neck  uncovered. 

Legend.— Q^O^G^W^  •  DEI  •  GRATIA  • 

Reverse. — A  large  full-blown  rose  in  the  centre  of  the  field,  surmounted  by  the  crown. 

Legend.— RO^A  •  AMERICANA  •  1723. 

mergue.-VTILE.  •  DULCI  • 

(Size  6.     See  Plate  VII.,  Figure  9.) 

We  would  observe  that  there  is  a  penny  which  agrees  in  every  particular  with  that 
of  1722,  previously  described,  except  that  it  is  without  a  date.  We  must  conclude, 
therefore,  that  it  was  an  unfinished  pattern  piece  or  counterfeit,  which  some  speculator 
has  had  struck  off;  as  we  have  heard  of  a  number  of  such  pieces  in  numismatical 
collections. 

Penny. 

1733.        Device. — A  bust  of  George  11. ;  head  laureated,  and  facing  in  a  reverse  position  to 
the  others  —  left ;  the  neck  uncovered.  ^ 

Legend.— (M^OUQITJ^  II  •  D  •  G  •  REX  • 
Reverse.— RO^K  -  AMERICANA  •  1733. 
Exergue.— JJHILE.  •  DULCI  • 

(Size  9.     See  Plate  VII.,  Figure  10.) 

KOSA    AMERICANA. 
Legend. 

Types.    Varieties. 

1722.  Penny.  GEORGIUS  •  D  :  G  :  MAG  :  BRI :  FRA  :  ET  HIB  :  REX  •          .  2          6 

Half-penny.  GEORGIUS  •  DEI  •  GRATIA  •  REX 2          4 

Farthing.                         ''               "             «               « 3  7 

1723.  Penny.  The  same  as  above 24 

Half-penny.              u         u         a                2  5 

Farthing.                 u         a         u                      3  6 

1733.     Penny.  GEORGIUS  II.  D-  G  REX. 1  1 

Owing  to  the  limited  number  of  specimens  of  these  coins  which  have  been  preserved 
in  our  cabinets,  or  are  known  and  accessible,  we  can  give  only  such  information  as  an 
examination  of  them  discloses. 

The  above  types  and  varieties,  the  only  attempt  at  a  classification  of  them  we  have 
seen,  may  or  may  not  be  full,  as  we  have  no  precedent  or  other  means  for  deciding. 
We  think  it  probable  the  number  of  the  same  may  be  increased,  and  hope  that  more 
light  may  be  thrown  upon  this  interesting  coin  by  others. 


COLONIAL    COINS.  77 

In  one  of  the  varieties  of  the  Kosa  Americana  half-penny  of  1722,  in  our  possession, 
the  letter  Y  is  used  instead  of  the  modern  U,  thus:  VTILE  DVLCIj  and  the 
punctuation  after  ROSA  AMERICANA  in  this  piece  is  a  rose  of  six  dots. 

The  farthing  we  have  described  also  varies  from  the  ordinary  pieces,  of  that 
denomination,  of  1722  ;  as,  upon  the  latter,  it  reads  on  the  obverse,  GEORGIUS  D :  G., 
and  on  the  reverse,  ROSA*  AMERI.,  thus  making  totally  distinct  types  and  varieties. 

We  have  lately  seen  a  farthing  of  the  date  of  1723,  with  the  full  blown  rose  upon 
the  reverse,  without  the  crown,  the  legend  on  the  same  not  being  abbreviated  as  is 
common  on  the  farthings  of  that  year;  also,  a  half-penny  of  1724,  whose  legend  is 
ROSA-  AMERI.     These  specimens  are  very  rare. 

The  rose  appears  to  have  been  a  favorite  emblem  in  both  ancient  and  modern  times. 
It  was  the  flower  of  Venus,  and  was  consecrated  by  Cupid  to  Harpocrates,  the  god  of 
silence,  and  hence  became,  mythologically,  his  symbol. 

In  English  history,  in  the  feuds  between  the  rival  houses  of  York  and  Lancaster,  the 
white  rose  was  the  badge  of  the  former,  and  the  red  rose,  of  the  latter. 

During  the  reign  of  Henry  YIIL,  a  rose,  surmounted  by  a  crown,  appeared  upon 
the  golden  crown  and  the  silver  groat ;  under  the  reign  of  Edward  YI.,  it  embellished 
sixpences  and  shillings,  and  in  the  reigns  of  Elizabeth  and  James,  it  occupied  one  face 
of  the  golden  angel  —  a  coin  bearing  on  the  other  face  the  figure  of  an  angel,*  which 
coin  had  different  values  under  different  princes,  but  which  now  is  an  imaginary  sum 
or  money  of  account,  implying  ten  shillings  sterling. 

In  the  reigns  of  Charles  I.  and  II.,  the  rose  was  placed  upon  crowns,  half-pence,  and 
rupees  —  the  latter  an  East  Indian  denomination  of  money  —  and  upon  the  Irish 
black  money ;  in  the  reign  of  George  I.,  the  rose,  separately,  and  surmounted  by  the 
crown,  occupied  the  reverse  upon  the  "  Rosa  Americana;"  in  that  of  George  II.,  it  was 
continued  upon  the  "  Rosa  Americana,"  and  also  beautified  the  crown,  half-crown, 
shilling,  and  sixpence ;  in  that  of  George  lY.,  it  held  a  place  upon  the  crown  and 
shilling,  and  it  also  now  graces  the  beautiful  crown  piece  of  the  present  sovereign  of 
Great  Britain  —  Queen  Yictoria. 

Of  the  British  tokens,  issued  during  the  sixteenth  and  seventeenth  centuries,  forty 
of  them  bear  the  emblem  of  the  rose ;  and  the  jettons  or  counters,  issued  at  Nuremburgh 
during  the  reign  of  Charles  Y.,  have  the  rose  upon  the  obverse. 

The  patent  for  the  coining  of  the  "  Rosa  Americana"  was  granted  to  one  William 
Wood  in  1722,  who,  in  connection  with  Kingsnell  Eyres,  Esq.,  a  Mr.  Marsland,  a 

^  Skinner  says,  the  device  was  impressed  upon  it  in  allusion  to  an  observation  of  Pope  Gregory  the  Great, 
who,  seeing  some  beautiful  English  youths  in  the  market  at  Rome,  asked  who  they  were ;  being  told  they 
were  Angli  —  English  —  he  replied,  they  might  rather  be  called  angeli  —  angels. 


78  COLONIAL    COINS. 

hardware  dealer  in  Cornwall,  and  others,  was  engaged  in  the  scheme  for  supplying  the 
American  colonies  with  a  copper  currency. 

Wood  also  had  a  patent  for  Ireland,  for  what  were  denominated  the  "  Wood  half-pence." 
An  investigation  of  the  patent,  growing  out  of  the  extreme  cupidity  of  Wood,  who, 
by  attempting  to  defraud  the  people  of  Ireland,  by  making  thirteen  shillings  out  of  a 
pound  of  copper  or  brass,  which  caused  the  total  rejection  by  them  of  his  issues, 
developed  the  fact,  that  the  profits  arising  from  this  patent  were  to  have  been  shared 
with  the  Duchess  of  Kendall,  one  of  the  frail,  but  captivating  beauties,  who  reflected 
their  radiance  upon  the  character  of  George  I. 

This  circumstance  was  too  rich  in  material  not  to  attract  the  particular  attention  of 
Dean  Swift,  who  used  it  at  the  time  to  give  point  to  some  poetical  effusions,  and, 
consequently,  to  indulge  in  full  his  proclivity  for  satire. 

The  dies  for  the  "  Eosa  Americana"  were  engraved  in  London,  and  the  coin  was 
struck  off  at  the  French  'Change  in  Hog  Lane,  sign  of  the  "  Seven  Dials,"  by  an 
engine  that  elevated  and  precipitated  a  weight  upon  the  metal  planchets  when  in  a 
heated  state,  thought  to  be  at  the  time  the  best  method  for  coining  bath  metal  of  which 
it  was  composed. 

Some  of  this  coin  was  sent  to  New  York,  under  the  charge  of  a  Mr.  Winthrop,  and 
though  really  very  beautiful,  it  appears,  as  a  speculation,  to  have  been  unsuccessful, 
for  whatever  rhay  have  been  the  fate  of  others  in  connection  with  it,  it  ruined  Mr. 
Marsland,  in  whose  cellar  were  found  large  quantities  of  it,  which  had  not  for  a  long 
time  seen  the  light  till  thus  exhumed. 

The  letters  patent  for  the  "  Rosa  Americana"  specified  pennies,  half-pennies,  and 
farthings,  of  the  value  of  the  coins  of  Great  Britain.  We  have  only  been  able  to 
discover  five  types.  The  first  series  were  issued  in  the  reign  of  George  I.,  in  1722;  in 
1723  the  type  was  altered,  as  the  descriptions  and  fac-similes  show,  by  surmounting 
the  rose  with  a  crown. 

It  is  stated  that,  in  1724,  a  full  series  of  these  coins  were  issued;  but  we  have  only 
been  able  to  discover  the  farthing,  rendering  the  emissions  of  the  other  denominations 
problematical. 

The  penny  without  date,  we  have  noticed,  we  consider  as  a  pattern  piece  of  1722; 
but  the  penny  piece  of  1733,  which  we  have  described,  is  a  rare  specimen  of  that 
coin  issued  in  the  reign  of  George  II.  Of  this  penny,  w^e  have  never  learned  of  the 
existence  of  but  four  specimens,  which  were,  until  lately,  in  the  cabinets  of  England. 
For  a  fac-simile  of  it  we  are  indebted  to  Snelling  and  Ruding,  who  derived  it  from  the 
cabinet  of  Thomas  Hollis,  Esq.,  whose  collection  was  sold  at  auction  in  London,  on 
May  18th,  1817,  when  this  piece  brought  the  sum  of  £6,  6s.;  another  specimen  in 


COLONIAL    COINS.  79 

the  collection  of  Marrriaduke  Trattle,  Esq.,  commanded  the  sum  of  £3,  Is.^in  1832; 
the  third  is  in  the  celebrated  collection  of  the  British  Museum,  and  the  fourth  was 
purchased  in  England  for  the  sum  of  £7,  or  thirty-five  dollars,  for  Charles  J.  Bushnell, 
Esq.,  of  New  York  city,  unfortunately  placed  on  board  of  the  steamer  Arctic,  to  be 
transmitted  to  him,  on  her  last  and  fatal  voyage,  and  its  pigmy  proportions  are  now 
added  to  the  vast  accumulations  that  lie  imbedded  in  the  sands  of  the  Atlantic  ocean. 

Granby  Copper. 

Device. — A  deer  standing  in  a  circle,  and  facing  to  the  left.  1737. 

Legend.—'^  W^ALUE  .  ME  .  AS  .  YOU  .  PLEASE    ^ 
Exergue. — LEI. 

Meverse. — Three  sledge-hammers,  surmounted  by  a  crown. 
Legend.— ^^  I .  AM  .  GOOD  .  COPPER.     : : : .  /.;.  . : :  j 

Exergue. — 1737. 

(Size  8.) 

Device. — A  deer  standing  in  a  circle,  and  facing  to  the  left. 
Legend.— '^^  CONNECTICUT. 
Exergue. — III. 

Heverse. — Three  sledge-hammers,  surmounted  by  a  crown. 

Legend.— i^-  I .  AM  .  GOOD  .  COPPER,     j : : .  .;.;.  . : :  j 

Exergue. — 1737. 

(Size  8.) 

Device. — A  deer  standing  in  a  circle,  and  facing  to  the  left. 
Legend.— VALJJIl  .  ME  .  AS  .  YOU  .  PLEASE     ^ 
Exergue. — III. 

Reverse. — A  broad-axe. 

Legend.— ^^^-  J  .  CUT  .  MY  .  WAY  .  THROUGH. 

Exergue.— 11^1 . 

(Size  8.) 

There  is  an  issue  precisely  like  the  preceding,  except  that  it  is  without  a  date. 

Device. — A  deer  standing  in  a  circle,  and  facing  to  the  left.  1739. 

Legend.— ^^^-  VALUE  .  ME  .  AS  .  YOU  .  PLEASE. 
Exergue. — III. 


^  Spelt  in  this  single  type  as  represented.  Subsequent  examples  show  it  must  have  been  an  oversight ;  and 
that  Connecticut,  the  home  of  Noah  Webster,  was  not  so  defective  in  its  orthography,  as  such  a  spelling 
would  indicate,  even  before  his  appearance. 


80  COLONIAL    COINS. 

Reverse. — Three  sledge-hammers,  surmounted  by  a  crown. 
Legend.—!  .  AM  .  GOOD  .  COPPER,     i : : .  .;.;.  . : :  j 

(See  Plate  VIL,  Figures  11  and  12.) 

Of  this  copper,  there  are  five  types,  viz. : 

Device.  Legend.  Date. 

Three  sledge-hammers Value  me  as  you  please 1737. 

"  "  "         Connecticut.  " 

Broad-axe.  Value  me  as  you  please " 

"        "        "        "  No  date. 

Three  sledge-hammers "        "        "        "  1739. 

The  similarity  between  these  coppers  is  so  great,  that  we  denominate  them  without 
varieties.  They  were  stamped  upon  planchets  of  the  purest  copper,  and,  in  consequence, 
were  in  demand  by  goldsmiths  for  alloy. 

The  trade  of  a  blacksmith,  ever  since  Vulcan  was  engaged  in  forging  thunderbolts, 
has  given  to  the  world  some  very  remarkable  men  ;  and  it  affords  us  great  pleasure, 
at  this  time,  to  be  able  to  contribute  toward  immortalizing  one  of  the  craft,  who  not 
only  devised,  but  manufactured  a  currency. 

We  have  seen  it  stated,  that  Mr.  Highley,  the  author  of  the^  coppers,  was  an 
ingenious  blacksmith,  who  resided  in  the  town  of  Granby,  Connecticut  —  hence  the 
name,  "  Granby  Copper" —  and  that  with  all  the  notions  of  utility,  which  he  naturally 
derived  from  the  anvil,  he  was  also  ambitious  of  making  a  little  fame  for  himself  beside. 

He  has  certainly  left  evidences  of  having  been  an  artist,  as  well  as  a  financier;  for 
the  creations  of  his  genius  and  skill  were,  for  the  times,  well  executed,  and  they  also 
became  a  currency.  Subsequently,  we  are  informed,  his  cupidity  led  him  into  the 
hazardous  experiment  of  illegally  imitating  other's  issues,  w^hich,  being  discovered,  we 
regret  to  say,  deprived  him  of  a  portion  of  the  laurels  that  had  previously  encircled 
his  brow. 

These  coppers  bear  the  symbols  of  their  origin,  with  a  due  regard  to  royalty  on  some 
of  them  —  the  sledge-hammers  being  surmounted  by  crowns  —  a  something  very 
apparent  to  the  minds  of  the  colonists,  but  which  did  not  always  command  their 
sincere  reverence. 

These  coins,  at  this  time,  grace  but  few  cabinets,  having  been  so  generally  impaired 
by  wear  —  from  being  stamped  upon  unalloyed  copper  —  as  to  be  rarely  found 
sufficiently  perfect.  We  were  favored  by  lately  finding  in  New  York  city  an 
electrotype  which  was  perfect,  but  we  were  not  so  fortunate  as  to  be  able  to  trace  it 
to  the  original. 


h^^yo] 


LN.Rosejithalluth  PJiilad^. 


COLONIAL    COINS.  81 

Having  given  one  version  of  the  origin  of  the  Granby  copper,  we  must  not  omit  to 
state  that  the  "  learned  professions"  have  a  claim  that  its  honor  lies  with  them.  This 
plain  Mr.  Highley,  blacksmith,  as  we  have  denominated  him,  being,  by  another 
authority,  transformed  into  an  M.  D.,  who,  if  he  were  the  originator  and  manufacturer 
of  these  coins,  evidenced  a  much  greater  proclivity  for  edge-tools  than  for  Materia  Medica. 

Flokida  Piece. 

Device. — The  bust  of  Charles  m.  of  Spain,  facing  to  the  right,  the  hair  flowing  in 

ringlets  over  the  neck,  and  clothed  in  regal  costume.  1760. 

Legend.— CMLO^.  IIL  D.  G.  HISPAN  •  REX. 
Reverse. — A  large  full-blown  rose  with  leaf  and  bud,  in  a  stem. 
Legend.— T^K^  •  ESTEVAN  •  DE  PENA  •  FLORIDA  1760. 

(Size  9.     See  Plate  VIIL,  Figure  1.) 

This  very  curious,  as  well  as  interesting  piece,  is  in  silver,  and  is  now  in  the  cabinet 
of  Joseph  J.  Mickley,  Esq.,  of  Philadelphia,  who  received  it  in  the  way  of  business  as 
a  half  dollar;  that  being  intrinsically  about  its  value.  It  has  naturally  attracted  much 
attention  from  those  numismatologists  who  have  become  cognizant  of  its  existence, 
and  they  have  taken  a  deep  interest  in  the  origin  of,  and  authority  for,  its  emission ; 
but  the  archives  of  Spain  throw  no  light  upon  it. 

It  may  have  been  designed  as  a  currency  for  Florida,  though  the  most  natural 
construction  we  can  put  upon  it  is,  that  it  was  struck  off  as  a  medium  between  the 
colonial  Governor  and  the  Indians,  it  being  known  that  titles  were  conferred,  or 
commissions  granted  to  their  chiefs. 

We  have  been  informed  that  one  of  these  commissions  is  now  preserved  in  Florida, 
which  was  found  carefully  located  in  the  pouch  of  an  Indian  chief  who  was  shot. 
This  commission  denominated  him  the  chief  of  the  medal ;  and  it  indicates  pretty 
clearly  that  if  this  piece  was  not  designed  as  the  emblem  of  an  order  of  distinction 
among  the  aborigines,  the  Spaniards  so  applied  it,  after  they  became  acquainted  with 
their  natural  vanity. 

We  think  a  similar  piece  cannot  be  found  in  any  other  cabinet  in  our  country. 

Pitt  Piece. 

Device. — A  bust  intended  for  Pitt,  in  citizen's  plain  dress,  and  facing  to  the  left ; 

the  hair  in  a  cue.  1766. 

Legend.— I^YIE  RESTORER  OF  COMMERCE. 

Exergue.— ^0  STAMPS.     1766. 

Reverse. — A  ship  under  full  sail,  on  the  stern  of  which  appears  AMERICA. 

Legend.— miKEK^  •  TO  •  THE  •  FRLENDS  •  OF  -  LIBERTY  •  AND  •  TRADK 

(Size  8.     See  Plate  VIIL,  Fiirure  2.) 
11 


82  COLONIAL    COINS. 

The  country  was  indebted  to  the  ubiquitous  patriotism  of  Colonel  Paul  Revere,  of 
Boston,  Massachusetts,  for  this  medalet,  who  originated  and  designed  it,  the  artist  being, 
it  is  said,  a  Mr.  Smithers,  of  Philadelphia. 

The  "stamp  act"  was  passed  March  22d,  1765,  and  repealed  March  18th,  1766, 
through  the  instrumentality  of  Mr.  Pitt,  who  maintained,  with  all  his  great  ability 
and  eloquence,  that  taxation  was  no  part  of  the  governing  or  legislative  power  which 
Parliament  had  a  right  to  exert  over  the  colonies ;  and  concluded  with  a  motion,  "  that 
the  stamp  act  be  repealed  totally,  absolutely,  and  immediately."  The  bill  received  the 
sanction  of  the  king  on  the  18th  day  of  March,  the  stamp  act  being  upon  the  statute 
book  a  few  days  less  than  a  year. 

The  admiration  felt  for  Mr.  Pitt,  for  the  noble  stand  he  had  taken  in  behalf  of  the 
just  rights  of  the  colonists,  led  to  the  emission  of  this  medalet,  which  was  about  the 
size  of  a  quarter  of  a  dollar,  evidently  gotten  up  with  much  haste,  and  composed  of  an 
inferior  quality  of  brass.  As  an  emblem  of  gratitude  to  Mr.  Pitt,  and  a  manifestation 
of  popular  feeling  in  the  colonies,  it  possessed  all  the  value  that  the  purest  gold  could 
have  conferred  upon  it. 

The  night  after  the  passage  of  the  "  stamp  act,"  Doctor  Franklin,  then  in  London, 
wrote  to  Charles  Thompson  :  "  The  sun  of  liberty  is  set;  you  must  light  up  the  candles 
of  industry  and  economy."  Mr.  Thompson  replied :  "  Be  assured  we  shall  light  up 
torches  of  quite  another  sort." 

Nothing  occurred  in  the  history  of  the  colonies  that  excited  such  a  deep  feeling  of 
dissatisfaction,  and  united  and  determined  opposition  to  the  mother  country,  as  the 
stamp  act;  and  which  continued  not  only  unabatedly,  but  progressively,  till  its  repeal. 
Everything  was  undertaken  that  genius  could  devise,  or  human  will  accomplish  against 
it,  except  a  resort  to  arms.  Virginia  first,  and,  afterwards,  all  the  rest  of  the  colonies, 
declared  against  the  right  of  Great  Britain  to  tax  America. 

It  was  this  act  that  imbued  Patrick  Henry  with  the  patriotic  fire  which  gave  rise  to 
that  memorable  episode  in  the  House  of  Burgesses  of  Virginia,  in  which  he  asserted 
that  the  king,  in  assenting  to  the  act  for  taxing  the  colonies,  had  acted  the  part  of  a 
tyrant ;  and  alluding  to  the  fate  of  other  tyrants,  he  exclaimed  :  "  Cassar  had  his  Brutus, 
Charles  I.  his  Cromwell,  and  George  III." — he  was  interrupted  by  the  cry  of  "treason" 
—  pausing  for  a  moment,  he  deliberately  concluded— "may  profit  by  their  example; 
if  this  be  treason,  make  the  most  of  it." 

Non-importation  agreements  were  entered  into ;  combinations  formed  against  eating 
lamb,  in  order  to  increase  the  growth  of  wool,  and  among  the  ladies,  renouncing  every 
kind  of  luxury  imported  from  Great  Britain.  This  practical  patriotism  soon  brought 
the  mother  country  to  its  senses  j  and  w.e  venture  to  suggest,  though  by  some  it  may 


COLONIAL    COINS.  83 

be  denominated  "treason,"  that  in  the  lack  of  Federal  disposition  to  protect  the 
industry  of  our  country  virtually  against  foreign  taxation  —  similar  measures,  on  the 
part  of  the  people,  would  soon  consolidate  its  industry,  and  restore  it  to  real  prosperity. 

Louisiana  Copper. 

Device. — A  laurel  wreath  surmounted  by  a  crown.     An  oval  ring  of  dots  enclosing 

the  letters  R.  F.,  in  the  centre  of  the  field.  1767. 

Legend.— ^YYl  NOMEN  DOMINI  BENEDICTUM  + 

Exergue. — 1767. 

Reverse. — Two  sceptered  fleurs  crossed. 

Legend.— COJ^O'EIE^.  FRANCOISES. 

Inscription. — L        XV. 

(Sizes.     See  Plate  Vni.,  Figure  3.) 

This  coin  was  gotten  up  in  France  by  the  Government  for  a  copper  currency,  to  be 
circulated  in  its  Louisiana  colonies,  where  it  appears  to  have  been  stamped  by  the 
ofl&cials  with  the  letters  "R.  F." — undoubtedly  denoting  royal  favor  —  and  for  which 
the  poor  colonists  were  constrainedly  thankful ;  having  no  means  of  ameliorating  their 
condition  but  by  apparent  gratitude  for  every  aid  extended  to  them,  and  prompt 
submission  to  the  royal  authority. 

Of  this  coin  there  is  but  one  type;  that  is  composed  of  good  copper,  and  well 
executed.  It  is  a  rare  piece,  and  occupies  a  prominent  place  among  the  mementos  of 
the  past,  in  both  France  and  Louisiana. 

Virginia  Half-penny. 

Device. — ^Bust  of  George  111. ,  neck  uncovered,  head  laureated,  facing  to  the  right, 

and  the  hair  in  a  cue  behind.  1773. 

ie^en(f.— GEORGIVS  III.  REX. 
Meverse. — Arms   in   an   ornamented   shield,    surmounted   by   a  crown:    First,   impaling 

Scotland ;  second,  France ;  third,  Ireland ;  fourth,  the  Electoral  Dominions. 
Legend.— VIRGINIA  — divided  by  the  shield. 
Exergue. — 1773  —  divided  by  the  crown. 

(Size  7.     See  Plate  Vin.,  Figure  4.) 

Silver  Half-penny.  1774. 

The  design  the  same.        (Size  7.     See  Plate  VIH.,  Figure  5.) 

Of  the  former,  our  information  extends  to  six  types,  and  of  the  latter,  two.     They 
are  as  follows : 


84  COLONIAL    COINS. 

1773.  Virginia  Copper  Half-penny.   • 

r  Georgius  III  Rex 

1.  Legend.—  j  Qeo^gius  III  Rex—  large  planchet. 

2.  "  Georgius  III.  Rex. 

3.  "  Georgius  III-  Rex. 

4.  "  Georgius.  III.  Rex. 

5.  "  Georgius-  III-  Rex- 

6.  "  Georgius  •  III  •  Rex  . 

1774.  Silver  Half-penny. 

1.  Legend. — Georgius  III  Rex 

2.  "         Georgius  •  III  -  Rex  • 

These  types  are  determined  by  the  punctuation.  That  which  has  heretofore  been 
denominated  the  Virginia  penny,  is  nothing  more  than  the  type  No.  1,  struck  upon  a 
somewhat  larger  and  thicker  planchet,  which  occurs  in  no  other  type  we  have  seen. 
The  reverse  being  the  same  in  all,  there  is  no  basis  for  varieties. 

These  beautifully  designed  coins  of  copper  and  silver  made  their  appearance  according 
to  date,  were  struck  off  in  England,  and  designed  for  circulation  in  the  Virginia  colony. 
We  can  find  no  authority  for  their  being  of  Governmental  origin,  and  therefore  incline 
to  the  opinion  that,  by  the  tacit  consent  of  the  authorities,  they  were  the  result  of 
individual  enterprise. 

The  obverse  is  an  exact  copy  of  the  gold  coins  of  that  period  of  time.  The  silver 
coins  are  very  rare,  but  the  copper  are  frequently  met  with  among  those  now  in 
circulation;  their  generally  imperfect  preservation,  however,  rendering  them  undesirable 
for  cabinet  collections.  They  were  gotten  up  with  an  imperfect  edge,  and  thicker  in 
the  centre,  and  hence  have  been  the  victims  of  serious  abrasion. 

Some  few  years  since,  a  quantity  of  these  copper  coins  was  dug  up  from  the  summit 
of  the  hill,  on  which  the  college  now  stands  at  Knoxville,  Tennessee;  and  quite  a 
number  were  exhumed  from  a  locality  near  Easton,  Pennsylvania,  showing  that  they 
must  have  been  extensively  circulated,  and  have  amply  rewarded  the  projectors. 

From  a  paper  read  before  the  Historical  Society  of  Maryland  by  S.  F.  Streeter,  Esq., 
we  learn,  "  that  in  November,  1645,  the  Governor,  Council,  and  Burgesses,  having 
maturely  weighed  and  considered  how  advantageous  a  quoine  current  Would  be  for  the 
colony,  and  the  great  wants  and  miseries  that  do  happen  unto  it  by  the  sole  dependency 
upon  tobacco,  resolved  to  take  Spanish  pieces   of  eight  at  six  shillings,  and  other 


COLONIAL    COINS.  85 

Spanish  coins  in  proportion ;  and  to  introduce  coins  of  copper  from  a  colonial  mint 
into  circulation. 

"  The  people  were,  therefore,  forbidden  to  use  tobacco  any  longer  as  a  circulating 
medium,  and  it  was  determined  to  coin  pieces  of  the  value  of  two,  three,  six,  and 
nine-pence,  for  general  use,  to  be  redeemed  by  the  public,  in  case  it  should  become, 
from  any  cause,  not  current.  On  each  coin  there  were  to  be  two  rings,  one  for  a 
motto,  and  the  other  to  receive  an  impression,  which  was  to  be  changed  every  year. 
The  appointment  of  a  mint-master  generetl,  to  superintend  this  formidable  emission  of 
copper,  completed  the  grand  financial  measure  of  the  day. 

"  Whether  it  was  ever  carried  into  effect  we  are  not  informed ;  but  if  it  was,  the 
conflicting  legislation,  the  various  expedients,  and  the  depressed  condition  of  the 
colony  in  after  years,  show  that  the  new  issue  neither  supplied  the  place  of  tobacco, 
nor  met  the  wants  of  the  community  for  purposes  of  convenience  or  traffic." 

This  is  not  the  only  instance  in  the  history  of  the  colonies,  in  which  necessity 
prompted  a  project  for  a  currency  which  proved  to  be  impracticable. 

Washington  Piece. 

Device. — Thirteen  oval  dotted  rings,  in  each  of  which  is  impressed  one  of  the  thirteen 

United  States ;  and  in  the  centre  of  the  field  are  the  initials  "  G.  "W."  1776. 

Legend.— LO^G^  LIVE  THE  PRESIDENT,  in  circular  form  around  the  "  G.  W." 

Reverse. — Smooth. 

(Size  10.     See  Plate  Vm.,  Figure  6.) 

This  "  piece"  has  been  carefully  preserved  in  a  number  of  cabinets,  and  has  been 
deemed  rare.  I  have  therefore  described  it,  in  order  to  dissipate  the  illusion  that  has 
heretofore  existed  in  relation  to  it.  It  is  simply  a  button  manufactured  in  England, 
thus  ornamented  to  flatter  the  pride  of  the  Americans,  and  thereby  assure  large  sales 
and  a  profitable  speculation. 

On  June  12th,  1855,  a  piece  was  sold  in  this  city,  denominated  the  Franklin  penny, 
at  a  large  price.  On  the  obverse,  it  bore  the  bust  of  Franklin,  cap  on  the  head,  and 
below  the  bust,  "  BALE,"  with  a  dog  stamped  in  front  of  the  bust. 

An  old  Revolutionary  soldier  lately  informed  us,  that  in  his  youth,  large  brass  and 
copper  buttons,  bearing  on  their  exterior  surface  the  bust  and  name  of  distinguished 
men,  were  worn  upon  overcoats.  The  "  Washington  piece"  was  quite  commonly  in 
use,  but  was  then  what  it  was  designed  to  be,  a  button.  We  regret  exceedingly  that 
we  are  compelled  to  deal  thus  summarily  with  what  otherwise  might  have  contributed 
much  pleasure  to  those  who  are  the  possessors  of  what,  at  this  time,  may  be  deemed 
at  least  a  very  remarkable  button. 


86  -  COLONIAL    COINS. 

It  is  thus  established,  that  the  love  of  gain  overrides  in  many  breasts  every  other 
sentiment;  for  foreign  manufacturers  and  designers  have  not  hesitated,  at  all  times, 
to  reflect  upon  themselves  and  their  country,  by  placing  upon  their  wares  and 
merchandise  any  patriotic  emblem  or  motto  which  they  supposed  would  contribute  to 
our  pride  or  gratification,  and,  at  the  same  time,  fill  their  pockets. 

Continental  Currency. 

1776.        Device. — The  rising  sun  reflecting  its  rays  upon  a  dial,  with  the  word  FUGIO  at 
the  left  side. 
Legend.— Mmi)  YOUR  BUSINESS. 
j;a;gr^Me.— CONTINENTAL    CURRENCY,    1776,   with  a  circle  or  ring  around 

the  edge. 
Reverse. — Thirteen  small  circles,  connected  like  the  links  of  a  chain,  in  each  of 
which  is  inscribed  the  name  of  one  of  the  thirteen  original  States  of 
the  Union. 
Legend. — AMERICAN  CONGRESS  — in  a  ring  —  central  to  the  thirteen  —  and 
in  the  centre  of  the  same  —  WE  ARE  ONE. 
(Size  12.     See  Plate  VIIL,  Figure  7.) 

There  were  two  distinct  types  of  this  *'  continental  currency,"  and  five  varieties. 
In  one  variety  the  letter  R  is  added  in  the  inner  circle ;  on  the  reverse,  AMER^ 
CONGRESS  instead  of  AMERICAN  CONGRESS. 

By  whomever  designed,  this  coin  or  medal  unburdened  the  patriotic  genius  of  some 
one,  and  it  was  eminently  worthy  of  the  glorious  period  whose  date  it  bears.  It  was 
in  itself  a  treatise,  in  the  then  condition  of  our  country,  in  behalf  of  liberty;  and 
contrasted  now  with  the  more  artistic,  but  much  less  vigorous,  designs  upon  the  present 
coinage  of  our  national  mint,  is  worthy  of  imitation. 

Our  forefathers  neglected  no  opportunity  which  offered  for  stimulating  the  patriotism 
of  the  people ;  for  their  coins  and  paper  money  bore  emblems  and  mottoes  calculated 
to  inspire  love  of  country  and  love  of  liberty  in  the  every  day  relations  of  both  business 
and  pleasure,  of  which  money  was,  as  now,  the  medium. 

With  all  our  admiration  for  this  coin  or  medal,  we  have  not  been  able  to  determine 
that  it  was  designed  for,  or  that  it  became  to  any  great  extent,  a  currency.  As  it  made 
its  appearance  only  in  white  metal,  the  idea  is  strengthened  thereby  that  it  was  in 
reality  a  medal,  struck  off"  to  commemorate  the  bold,  fearless,  and  patriotic  acts  of  the 
Congress  that  declared  our  country  a  free  and  independent  nation. 


COLONIAL    COINS.  -  87 


Janus  Copper. 


Device. — ^A  head  with  inverted  faces.  ,  1776. 

Legend.— ^TXT^  OF  MASS  A:  J  D. 

Reverse. — The  Goddess  of  Liberty  seated  on  the  globe,  holding  in  her  right  hand  the 

liberty  pole,  and  in  the  left  the  scales,  emblematic  of  justice. 

Exergue. — 1776. 

(Size  6.     See  Plate  VIIL,  Figure  8.) 

Janus,  the  son  of  Apollo,  went  to  Italy,  where  he  planted  a  colony  and  founded  a 
town,  which  he  named  Janiculum.  He  is  represented,  as  is  well  known,  with  two 
faces,  because,  by  the  ancients,  he  was  believed  to  be  capable  of  relating  all  things  of 
the  past,  and  revealing  everything  in  regard  to  the  future.  Hence,  with  the  endowment 
of  supernatural  power,  he  was  accepted  by  the  Romans  for  a  god,  worshipped  as  such, 
and  had  a  temple  erected  in  his  name,  which  was  never  closed  except  in  a  time  of 
imiversal  peace.  History  informs  us,  that  it  was  closed  but  three  times  in  a  period  of 
upwards  of  seven  hundred  years,  during  which  time  the  Romans  were  engaged  almost 
incessantly  in  war. 

This  coin  is  in  the  collection  of  M.  A.  Stickney,  Esq.,  of  Salem,  Massachusetts,  to 
whom  we  are  indebted  for  a  fac-simile,  and  who  informs  us,  that  the  die  was  gotten  up 
and  cut  by  the  distinguished  mechanic,  patriot,  and  gentleman.  Colonel  Paul  Revere, 
of  Boston  ;  that  he  thinks  it  was  designed  for  a  currency,  the  value,  half-pence,  being 
impressed  upon  it,  and  that  the  head  on  the  obverse  was  supposed  to  refer  to  the  Whig 
and  Tory  parties  of  1776.  This  is  probably  the  only  specimen  of  this  coin  to  be  found 
in  our  country,  and  it  is  consequently  very  rare  and  valuable. 

Janus  upon  an  American  coin  invites  speculation.  As  representing  the  Whig  and 
Tory  parties,  it  was  truthful,  for  they  looked  different  ways. 

Could  the  idea  have  been  suggested,  however,  from  the  planting  a  colony  and 
founding  a  town?  The  principles  of  liberty  at  this  time  — 1776  —  were  planted, 
which  resulted  in  the  founding  of  an  independent  nation.  That  may  have  induced 
the  idea,  though  we  are  inclined  to  think  that  its  application  was  exclusively  to  the 
Tories ;  as  they  looked  one  way,  and  thus  attempted  to  disguise  the  fact  that  they 
were  operating  in  a  contrary  direction  ;  so  that  with  fair  protestations  in  behalf  of  the 
liberty  of  the  colonies,  that  sterling  patriot,  Colonel  Revere,  saw  that  Janus  was  their 
prototype,  and  hence  his  effigy  was  a  fit  emblem  for  a  device  illustrative  of  the  fact, 
and  the  Goddess  of  Liberty  on  the  reverse,  as  the  antidote  or  true  symbol  of  devotion. 


88  COLONIAL    COINS. 

f 

Massachusetts  Coppers. 

1776.         Device. — The  pine  tree.  ' 

ie^gnc?.— AMERICAN  :  LIBERTY  : 
Reverse. — A  harp. 

(Size  8.     See  Plato  Yin.,  Figure  9.) 

Device. — The  American  eagle,  standing  with  extended  wings  —  as  if  about  to  leave 

it — upon  a  crown.     Around  the  margin  thirteen  stars. 
Reverse. — A  large  shield,  surrounded  by  thirteen  stars. 
(Size  7.     See  Plate  VIH.,  Figure  10.) 

We  are  indebted  to  M.  A.  Stickney,  Esq.,  previously  referred  to,  for  fac-similes  of 
the  above  described  coins,  who  ventures  the  opinion,  that  they  were  also  designed  and 
executed  by  Colonel  Revere,  of  Boston.  They  are  certainly  novel  to  us,  and  aid  much 
in  developing  the  character  and  variety  of  the  currency  in  circulation  among,  and  the 
patriotic  impulses  that  governed,  the  people  of  Massachusetts  at  that  time. 

They  were  substantial  indexes  to  the  mother  country  of  the  determination  of  the 
colonists  to  set  up  for  themselves  —  pine  trees,  eagles,  &c.,  being  no  part  of  the 
insignia  of  royalty. 

Pine  Tree  Copper. 

1776.         Device. — A  pine  tree  in  the  centre  of  the  field. 

ie^ew^^.— MASSACHUSETTS  STATE. 

Reverse. — A  female  seated  on  a  globe,  holding  in  her  right  hand  an  olive  leaf,  in 

her  left,  a  staff. 

Legend.— LIBERTY  AND  VIRTUE. 

Exergue. — 1776. 

(Size  9.     See  Plate  VIIL,  Figure  11.; 

By  some,  for  want  of  particular  history,  such  coins  as  this  have  been  denominated 
medals.  We  think,  however,  in  the  absence  of  tlie  needful  currency,  they  were 
originated  and  prepared  as  a  speculation  —  the  captivating  legends  often  rendering 
them  acceptable  for  preservation  ;  and,  in  the  matter  of  a  copper,  not  much  discrimina- 
tion or  querulousness  being  manifested  in  regard  to  their  reception  as  change. 

This  coin,  a  description  of  which  appeared  in  the  tenth  number  of  the  "  Historical 
Magazine  and  Notes  and  Queries,"  over  the  initials  J.  G.,  in  whose  collection  it  has  a 
place,  is  otherwise  unknown,  so  far  as  we  have  been  able  to  learn,  to  numisinatologists; 
and,  therefore,  may  be  properly  esteemed  as  both  rare  and  valuable.  It  is  of  course 
made  of  copper,  as  its  title  indicates,  and  is  nearly  of  the  size  of  a  half  dollar. 


FliAlPia,  Yllill 


COLONIAL    COINS.  89 


TJ.  S.  A.  Copper. 


Device. — Thirteen  bars  which  run  parallel  to,  and  equidistant  from,  each  other — typical 

of  the  thirteen  United  colonies  or  States. 
Reverse. — The  letters  U.  S.A. 

(Size  7.     See  Plate  VIH.,  Figure  12.) 

One  other  emission,  precisely  the  same.        (Size  6.) 

Of  the  above  coppers,  there  is  but  a  single  type  and  two  varieties.  They  bear  no 
date.  It  is  asserted  by  some,  they  were  issued  in  1776  —  favoring  the  idea,  that  the 
issue  of  a  coinage  at  this  .time  was  intended  as  an  endorsement  of  the  Declaration  of 
American  Independence;  by  others,  that  they  made  their  appearance  in  1783  —  the 
year  of  its  recognition  by  Great  Britain. 

They  were,  at  any  rate,  merely  a  private  enterprise,  and  we  have  learned, 
satisfactorily  to  ourselves,  that  they  were  really  gotten  up  and  struck  off  in  Cherry 
street,  in  Philadelphia. 

As  this  location  is  the  birthplace  of  the  "Washington  cent  of  1791,"  it  looks  a 
little  as  if  the  Mr.  Harper,  therewith  so  prominently  connected,  might  possibly  have 
paid  some  attention  to  the  art  of  coining,  before  the  period  when  he  became  so  famous. 

NoN.  Dbpen-dens.  Status. 

Device. — A  bust,  facing  to  the  right,  hair  plain  and  flowing,  resembling  an  Indian 

chief.     On  the  shoulder,  in  a  small  circle,  is  a  flag  and  sword  crossed,  and    1778. 
in  the  angle,  thus  formed,  are  four  fleur-de-lis  —  arms  of  France.     On  the 
breast  is  a  small  head  with  wings  extending  half-way  up  toward  the  shoulder. 

Legend.— ^0^  •  DEPEN-DENS  •  STATUS  • 

Reverse. — ^Full  length  figure  of  an  Indian  seated  on  a  globe,  around  his  loins  an  apron  of 
feathers;  in  his  right  hand  he  holds  a  bunch  of  tobacco  leaves,  in  the  left  a 
shield,  on  which  is  the  American  flag  and  a  sword  crossed,  and  in  each  angle, 
formed  thereby,  a  fleur-de-lis,  same  as  on  the  shoulder-knot  on  the  obverse. 

Legend.— AME.m.QK. 

Uxergue.— ins. 

(Size  8.     See  Plate  VIH.,  Figure  13.) 

An  engraved  piece,  so  elaborately  designed  as  was  this,  we  are  sorry  to  say,  is 
without  a  history.     It  certainly  must  have  thoroughly  taxed  the  powers  of  design  of 
some  one,  to  combine  so  many  emblems,  and,  at  the  same  time  too,  so  suggestive  of 
facts  and  ideas,  upon  a  single  copper. 
12 


90  COLONIAL    COINS. 

In  the  absence,  however,  of  authoritative  emissions  of  a  currency,  nothing  more 
natural  than  that  the  field  of  speculation  for  supplying  it  should  have  been  occupied 
with  every  variety  of  an  article  which  could  meet  the  public  taste,  and  thus  open  the 
way  for  a  more  important  result,  which,  for  many  of  these  copper  emissions,  was 
fully  realized. 

We  found  this  specimen  in  the  cabinet  of  Mr.  Howard,  of  the  city  of  New  York, 
and  it  is  the  only  one  of  the  kind  we  have  seen. 

Nova  Constellatio. 

1783.        Device. — An  eye,  symbolical  of  Supreme  power,  reflecting  its  rays  upon  thirteen 
six-pointed  stars,  emblematic  of  the  States  of  the  confederacy ;  and  a  single 
four-pointed  star  out  of  their  circular  line — the  punctuation. 
Legend.— ^OYK  •  CONSTELATIO   * 
Meverse. — A  laurel  wreath,  enclosing  the  letters  U  •  8 
Legend.— -LlB^nTAS  c§.  JUSTITIA  • 
Exergue. — 1783. 

rSize  8.— Copper.     See  Plate  IX.,  Figure  5.) 

Of  the  pieces  issued  in  this  year,  we  have  found  taree  types  and  five  varieties  j  the 
former  of  which  may  be  distinguished  bv  the  punctuation  of  the  legend  on  the 

obverse,  as  follows : 

Type  1.—   *   NOVA  '  CONSTELATIO 
"    2.—  •   NOVA  •  CONSTELLATIO 
"    3.—  ^  NOVA  •  CONSTELLATIO 

In  Type  1,  the  points  of  the  rays  terminate  bluntly. 

1783.        Device. — An  eye,  symbolical  of  Supreme  power,  reflecting  its  rays  upon  thirteen 
six-pointed  stars,  emblematic  of  the  States  of  the  confederacy. 
Legend.— IS^OYK  CONSTELLATIO    •.;.* 
Reverse. — A  wreath,  enclosing  the  letters  U.  S  and  1000. 
Legend.—  •  LIBERT  AS  •  JUSTITIA. 
Exergue.— VJ%^. 

(Size  81.— Silver.     See  Plate  IX.,  Figure  2.) 

Another,  same  as  the  preceding,  except  that  the  mint-mark  is  a  flower  with  three  leaves, 
and  500  is  enclosed  in  the  wreath  instead. 

Exergue.— Vl^Z. 

(Size  7.— Silver.     See  Plate  IX.,  Figure  3.) 


COLONIAL    COINS.  91 

Device. — An  eye,  symbolical  of  Supreme  power,  reflecting  its  rays  upon  thirteen 

six-pointed  stars,  emblematic  of  the  States  of  the  confederacy.  1785. 

Legend.— EOYK  CONSTELLATIO 

Reverse. — The   figure   of   Justice   seated,   supporting  with  her  right  hand   a  flag-staff, 
surmounted  by  the  liberty  cap — the  flag  drooping  over  the  arm  —  and  holding 
the  scales  in  her  left. 
Legend.— lUMXJ'^^  COLUMBIA  • 
Exergue. — 1785. 

(Size  7.— Silver.     See  Plate  IX.,  Figure  4.) 

Device. — An  eye,  symbolical  of  Supreme  power,  reflecting  its  rays  upon  thirteen 

six-pointed  stars,  emblematic  of  the  States  of  the  confederacy.  1785. 

Legend.— ^OY A  CONSTELLATIO 

Reverse. — The   figure   of  Justice   seated,   supporting  with  her  right  hand   a  flag-stafl*, 
surmounted  by  the  liberty  cap  —  the  flag  drooping  over  the  arm  —  and  holding 
the  scales  in  the  left. 
Legend.— JMMJYKE.  COLUMBIA. 
Exergue. — 1785. 

(Size  7.— Gold.    See  Plate  IX.,  Figure  1.) 

The  first  of  the  pieces  we  have  described,  and  represented  by  figure  5,  in  plate  9, 
is  of  copper;  those  by  the  figures  2  and  3,  same  plate,  were  of  silver,  and  formerly 
belonged  to  Charles  Thomson' — a  contemporary  and  particular  friend  of  Benjamin 
Franklin  —  who  was  a  very  decided  advocate  of  the  just  rights  of  the  colonies,  and 
distinguished  himself  greatly  by  his  uniform  patriotism. 

They  were  discovered,  after  the  death  of  his  son,  which  occurred,  we  are  informed, 
some  fifteen  years  ago,  near  Newark,  Delaware,  in  the  secret  drawer  of  an  old  desk 
that  formerly  belonged  to  the  father. 

They  are  now  in  the. possession  of  a  gentleman  of  this  city,  who  values  them  very 
highly,  not  only  as  memorials  of  the  past,  but  for  their  direct  association  with  one  of 
those  noble  men,  whose  visions  were  never  obscured  by  anything  that  was,  or  could  be, 
interposed  between  them  and  their  country. 

^  Mr.  Thomson  was  born  in  Ireland,  in  1729,  and  came  to  America  when  eleven  years  of  age.  He  was 
chosen  Secretary  of  the  first  Congress,  assembled  in  Philadelphia,  the  duties  of  which  he  continued  to 
discharge  with  great  reputation  to  himself,  and  advantage  to  his  country,  until  the  close  of  the  war.  He 
assisted  in  the  organization  of  the  new  government  after  the  adoption  of  the  Constitution,  and  was  the  person 
deputed  to  inform  Washington  of  his  nomination  to  the  Presidency.  Washington  wished  to  retain  him  in 
the  service  of  his  country,  but  in  his  own  words,  "  the  suitable  hour  for  his  retirement  had  come."  It  is 
asserted,  that  he  began  the  opposition  to  the  "  stamp  act"  in  Pennsylvania.  His  death  occurred  in  1824. — 
Encydopcedia  Americana,  vol.  xii. 


92  COLONIAL    COINS. 

That  represented  by  figure  4,  plate  9,  is  also  of  silver;  it  is  in  the  cabinet  of  Joseph 
J.  Mickley,  Esq.,  of  this  city,  and  is  very  rare. 

The  last  described  —  to  be  found  in  Plate  IX.,  figure  1  —  is  of  gold,  and  is  in  the 
United  States  Mint  of  Philadelphia. 

These  coins  were  also  struck  off  in  brass.  Of  the  silver,  there  are  specimens  in 
different  collections  of  coins  in  New  York  and  Boston;  those  of  copper  are  common. 
They  were  undoubtedly  gotten  up  in  England,  with  special  reference  to  being  circulated 
in  this  country,  and  we  have  no  doubt,  relative  to  their  being  an  American  enterprise. 
The  U.  S.,  prominent  upon  the  reverse,  does  not  give  them  a  claim  to  have  been  of 
home  manufacture. 

They  were  a  success,  being  extensively  circulated  throughout  the  country  at  that 
time ;  but  by  whom  issued,  has  ever  remained  a  mystery.  Mr.  Felt,  who  possessed 
unusual  fiicilities,  and  improved  them,  for  investigating  the  currency  of  Massachusetts, 
where  they  first  made  their  appearance,  says :  "  I  am  unable  to  find  any  authority  for 
their  issue,  though  they  are  connected  with  the  earliest  remembrances  and  enjoyments 
of  many  now  alive."     This  was  about  twenty  years  ago. 

"We  have  examined  several  hundred  specimens  of  the  copper  coins,  but  have  found 
but  three  types  and  five  varieties  for  this  year.  The  types  can  be  determined  by  the 
number  of  lines  making  a  point  in  the  rays  of  the  meridian  sun.  In  that,  which  we 
designate  as  the  first  type,  there  are  seven  lines,  and  in  the  second,  but  five.  There 
does  not  appear  to  have  been  any  issue  of  these  coins  in  1784.  The  gold  and  silver 
coinage  presents  but  a  single  type  and  two  varieties. 

Nova  Constelatio. 

1785.        Device. — ^An  eye,  symbolical  of  Supreme  power,  reflectiog  its  rays  upon  thirteen 
six-pointed  stars,  emblematic  of  the  States  of  the  confederacy. 
Legend.— EOYK  CONSTELATIO 
Reverse. — A  laurel  wreath,  enclosing  the  letters  U.  S. 
Legend.— 'LJSERHA.^  ET  JUSTITIA- 
Exergue. — 1785. 

(Size  8.     See  Plate  IX.,  Figure  6.) 

Of  the  copper  coin  issued  in  1785,  I  have  found  three  types  and  seven  varieties. 
The  types  may  be  distinguished  by  the  non-punctuation  or  punctuation  of  the  legend 
on  the  obverse,  thus  : 

Type  1.— NOVA  CONSTELATIO 
"    2.— NOVA.    CONSTELLATIO   * 
"    3.— NOVA  *  CONSTELLATIO. 


COLONIAL    COINS.  i)3 

Type  2  also  differs  from  the  others  by  the  outer  ends  of  the  points  or  rays  of  the 
meridian  sun  terminating  bluntly,  while  those  that  tend  to  the  centre  are  pointed, 
thus  changing  the  aspect  of  the  blaze.  Between  each  of  the  large  points  there  are 
two  smaller  ones,  making  in  all,  thirty-nine  points. 

The  dates  of  these  coins  can  be  determined,  when  obliterated,  by  observing  that  the 
legend  on  the  obverse  of  those  of  1783,  reads,  LIBERTAS  JUSTITIA,  and  on  those 
of  1785,  -LIBERTAS   ET   JUSTITIA-  — the  legend  having  but  one  L,  thus:  in 

CONSTELATIO. 

Georgius  Triumpho. 

Device. — A  bust,  the  head  laureated,  and  facing  to  the  right.  1783. 

Legend.— GEOUGIYS  TRIUMPHO  . 

Reverse. — The  Goddess  of  Liberty  erect,  facing  to  the  left — holding  a  laurel  branch  in  the 
right  hand,  and  supporting  the  liberty  pole  with  the  left.  In  front  of  the  figure, 
a  frame,  with  fleur-de-lis  at  each  corner,  and  on  the  field  of  the  same,  thirteen 
stripes,  emblematic  of  the  thirteen  United  States. 

Legend.— VOCE  POPOLI 

Exergue.— Vl^^. 

(Size  8.     See  Plate  IX.,  Figure  7.) 

Of  this  copper,  known  as  the  "  Tory  penny."  we  have  found  only  one  type  and 
three  varieties. 

It  has  a  history.  From  the  head  of  the  bust,  being  an  ejffigy  of  George  III.,  and 
the  legend,  GEORGIVS  TRIUMPHO,  much  hostility  was  manifested  toward  it  at  the 
time  of  its  appearance;  the  lingering  evidences  of  which  still  prevail  among  those 
who  possess  or  see  it,  the  legend  being  supposed  tp  refer  to  the  triumph  of  George,  the 
king,  instead  of  George,  the  patriot. 

There  being,  at  the  time  of  its  issue,  no  victory  for  his  British  majesty,  but,  on  the 
contrary,  the  greatest  triumph  that  has  ever  been  achieved  by  man  for  his  race,  the 
acknowledgement  of  our  national  independence,  no  basis  exists  for  prejudice  against 
this  harmless  copper,  not  purely  constructive. 

Gotten  up  in  England,  it  is  said  to  have  made  its  first  appearance  in  this  country  in 
Georgia,  though  we  have  found  no  evidence  to  show  that  it  was  designed  for  exclusive 
circulation  in  that  State;  which  we  are  informed,  unfortunately  contained  an  undue 
proportion  of  the  partizans  of  the  British  monarchy  and  its  king  —  a  circumstance 
calculated  to  excite  and  strengthen  the  impression  that  it  was  designed  at  least  to 
reflect  upon  the  triumph  of  the  Revolutionary  cause. 

We  are  informed,  the  feeling  ran  so  high  in  Virginia  and  elsewhere  against  it,  that 
many  of  them  were  mutilated  and  destroyed.     We  must,  however,  relieve  the  Tories 


94  COLONIAL    COINS. 

of  Georgia,  of  that  day,  of  any  connection  or  complicity  with  either  its  origin  or 
circulation. 

It  is  related  of  this  unhappy  class,  that,  about  this  time,  it  emigrated  in  a  body  to 
the  Island  of  Jamaica,  since  which,  those  composing  it  have  incurred  by  their  sins  — 
moral  and  physical  —  a  condition  of  degeneracy  which  must  ultimately  result  in  their 
total  extinction.  A  portion,  perhaps  the  entire  remnant  of  them,  finally  found  a 
home  at  Key  West,  where  they  are  known  by  the  name  of  "  conchs" —  mere  wreckers 
and  fishermen,  picking  up  a  precarious  living,  and  who,  by  isolation  and  close 
intermarriage,  are  as  distinguished  for  very  moderate  physical  powder  and  mental 
ability,  as  the  lowest  of  the  human  species  anywhere. 

In  regard  to  the  efl&gy  upon  this  coin,  it  is  not  the  only  instance  in  the  colonial 
currency,  as  this  work  discloses,  where  either  carelessness,  ignorance,  or  the  want  of 
something  more  appropriate,  has  given  us  a  fac-simile  of  the  head  of  George  III.,  as 
represented  upon  British  coins;  but,  in  our  opinion,  not  designed  to  have  any  intended 
connection  with  the  then  living  original,  the  numerals  being  left  out,  and  thereby 
rendering  the  head  as  applicable  in  intention  to  George  Washington  as  George  De  Este 
or  Guelph. 

Further,  the  Goddess  of  Liberty  with  the  pole,  and  the  thirteen  stripes — emblematic, 
clearly,  at  that  date,  of  the  States  of  the  Union  —  were  too  distinctive  of  a  fact  that 
could  not  be  ignored,  to  suppose  that  royalty  or  Toryism  would  adopt  as  emblems  such 
distasteful  evidences  of  their  own  humiliation.  We  trust  then  we  have  established  the 
claim  of  the  Georgius  Triumpho  to  equal  favor  with  its  associate  colonial  coins. 

MARYLAND. 

Anapolis  Shilling.: 

1783.        Device. — A  wreath  enclosing  two  hands  clasped. 

Legend.— J.  CHALMERS  .  ANAPOLIS. 

Reverse. — In  the  field  the  figures  of  two  birds,  with  a  bough  in  their  beaks. 

Legend.— 0'^^  SHILLING. 

Exergue. — 1783. 

(Size  5.     See  Plate  IX.,  Figure  8.) 

Anapolis  Sixpence. 

Device. — A  wreath  enclosing  two  hands  clasped. 

Legend.— J  CHALMERS  ANAPOLIS. 

Reverse. — In  the  field  the  figures  of  two  birds,  with  a  bough  in  their  beaks. 

Legend.— ^IX.  PENCE. 

Exergue. — 1783. 

(Size  4.     See  Plate  IX.,  Figure  9.) 


COLONIAL    COINS.  95 

Anapolis  Three-pence.  ^ 

Device. — A  wreath  enclosing  two  hands  clasped. 

Legend.-^  CHALMERS  ANAPOLIS. 

Reverse. — In  the  field  the  figures  of  two  birds,  with  a  bough  in  their  beaks. 

ie^ewci.— THREE-PENCE. 

Exergue.— Vl^^. 

(Size  2.     See  Plate  IX.,  Figure  10.) 

The  above  described  coins  were  very  well  executed  in  sterling  silver,  and  were 
issued  by  J.  Chalmers,  Annapolis,  Maryland,  as  an  individual  speculation.  From 
being  seldom  met  with  in  cabinet  collections,  it  is  inferred  their  circulation  was  not 
very  extensive.  They,  however,  show  to  what  difficulties  the  people  were  driven  for 
a  currency,  and  the  creditable  enterprise  that  sought  to  relieve  them. 

Washington  Cent. 

Device. — The  bust  of  "Washington  in  military  costume,  a  star  upon  the  epaulet,  head 

laureated,  and  facing  to  the  left,  and  the  hair  formed  into  a  cue  behind.         1783, 
ie^encf.— WASHINGTON  AND  INDLPENDENCE. 
Exergue. — 1783.     The  edge  grained. 
Reverse. — The  Goddess  of  Liberty  seated,  holding  in  the  right  hand  the  olive  branch,  and 

in  the  left  the  liberty  pole,  surmounted  by  the  cap. 
Exergue. — "  T.  W.  I."  in  small  capitals  on  the  left,  and  K.  S.  on  the  right  hand  side. 

(Size  8.  See  Plate  Xn.,  Figure  2.) 

Device. — The  bust  of  Washington  in  military  costume,  plain  epaulet  and  buttons  on  the 
coat,  head  laureated,  and  facing  to  the  left,  and  the  hair  formed  into  a  cue  behind. 
Ze^cwd— WASHLNGTON. 
Exergue. — ^An  oblong  star  of  eight  points. 
Reverse. — Same  as  the  obverse  —  bust  of  Washington,  &c. 
Legend.— OWS^  CENT. 
Exergue. — An  oblong  star  of  eight  points. 

(Size  7.  See  Plate  Xm.,  Figure  2.) 

Of  these  coins  we  have  found  but  the  single  types  as  described,  and  no  varieties. 
The  latter  is  without  date,  but  as  it  appeared  at  the  same  time  with  the  former,  it  is 
assumed  to  have  been  issued  in  the  same  year.  The  former,  from  the  letters  "  T.  W.  I." 
and  K.  S.  upon  it,  not  only  indicates  a  private  enterprise,  but  a  copartnership,  so  that 
the  latter  conforms  in  appearance  more  to  a  design  for  a  regular  currency. 


96  COLONIAL    COINS. 

Their  origin  is  undoubtedly  distinct,  and  though  we  have  presented  them  under  one 
head,  "  Washington  cents,"  which  name  collectors  and  others  seem  disposed  to  give 
them,  their  claim  to  the  same  rests  exclusively  upon  the  adoption  of  the  bust  of 
Washington  as  a  device. 

The  fair  inference  is,  that  these  cents  or  tokens  were  gotten  up  by  American 
speculators  in  England,  who,  aware  of  the  want  of  a  currency,  looked  to  the  successful 
introduction  of  this  at  a  large  profit.  This  was  undoubtedly  realized,  for  there  was 
such  a  scarcity  of  small  change,  that  everything  of  that  character  was  available. 
This  state  of  affairs  continued;  as  three  years  later,  1786,  we  find  Massachusetts 
establishing  her  second  mint,  because  she  finds  she  cannot  rely  upon  Congress  for  an 
adequate  coinage. 

It  appears  that  previous  to  1783,  there  had  been  a  lull  both  in  the  importation  and 
manufacture  of  money,  owing  to  some  of  the  States  having  resorted  to  legislation  for 
its  suppression,  in  consequence  of  quantities  of  base  coins  making  their  appearance  in 
circulation  among  the  people,  upon  whom  the  loss  must  ultimately  fall,  they  being 
issued  without  any  known  or  avowed  responsibility.  The  following  action  in 
Pennsylvania  upon  this  subject  will  illustrate  it : 

"  Whereas  divers  ill-disposed  persons  have  manufactured  or  imported  into  the  States, 
quantities  of  base  metals,  in  the  semblance  of  British  half-pence  and  other  coins,  but 
much  inferior  in  value  and  weight  to  the  genuine,  to  the  great  depreciation  of  those 
coin,  thereby  oppressing  the  community  in  general  and  the  poor  in  particular  —  such 
practices  having  a  natural  tendency  to  raise  the  necessaries  of  life,  and  introduce  new 
confusions  into  the  currency  of  the  country, 

^'  We  have,  therefore,  thought  proper  to  prohibit,  and  do,  hereby,  strictly  enjoin  on 
all  officers,  employed  in  the  receipt  of  taxes  or  other  public  dues,  not  to  receive  such 
base  coins  in  any  payment  whatsoever,  and  to  earnestly  recommend  to  all  faithful 
inhabitants  of  this  State,  to  refuse  it  in  payment,  and  by  all  other  lawful  means  and 
ways  discourage  the  currency  thereof;  and  we  do,  in  a  special  manner,  direct  any, 
and  all  Magistrates,  Sheriffs  and  other  officers  within  this  State,  to  make  enquiry  after 
offenders  in  the  premises,  that  they  may  be  brought  to  a  speedy  and  condign 
punishment. 

"  Given  by  order  of  the  Counsil,  under  my  hand,  and  the  less  seal  of  the  State  of 
Pennsylvania,  the  14th  day  of  July  in  the  year  of  our  Lord  1781. 

Joseph  Reed,  President.  Albert  Y.  Matlack,  Sect. 


COLONIAL    COINS.  97 

"Washington  Token. 

Device. — The  bust  of  Washington,  with  the  head  laureated,  and  facing  to  the  left.       1783. 

ig^gn(^.— WASHINGTON  AND  INDEPENDENCE. 

Exergue. — 1783. 

Reverse. — A  wreath  of  laurel  enclosing  the  words  "  ONE  CENT." 

Legend.— JmiHY  STATES  OF  AMERICA. 

Exergue. — jl^ 

(Size  8.     See  Plate Xn., Figure  1.) 

This  coin  is  known  among  some  by  the  name  of  the  "  Unity  cent" —  called  so  foi 
the  purpose  of  distinguishing  it  from  others,  bearing  the  bust  of  Washington,  of  the 
same  date. 

Like  all  others  whose  origin  is  unknown,  it  has  been  the  subject  of  much  speculation, 
it  being  the  pleasure  of  numismatologists  to  have  a  coin  accompanied  with  a  truthful 
history.  Relative  to  this  piece  then,  we  can  offer  nothing  not  purely  conjectural,  or 
of  a  very  uncertain  tradition. 

By  some  it  is  thought  to  have  been  designed  and  gotten  up  by  Benjamin  Franklin 
while  in  France,  for  circulation  in  America.  It  is  stated  too,  with  more  probability, 
that  it  was  gotten  up  and  struck  off  by  one  John  Kean,  a  dealer  in  coins,  in 
Philadelphia,  and  that  some,  if  not  the  whole  of  them,  were  moulded  in  fine  sand, 
instead  of  being  stamped.  We  incline  decidedly  to  the  latter  opinion,  because 
Philadelphia  was  at  one  time  the  parent  of  much  unauthorized  coin.  We  have  never 
seen  this  coin  in  anything  but  brass. 

Device. — The  bust  of  Washington  in  the  Roman  toga,  head  laureated,  and  facing 

to  the  left.  1783. 

Xf^^enc?.— WASHINGTON  &  INDIPENDENCE. 
Exergue. — 1783. 
Reverse. — The  Goddess  of  Liberty  seated,  holding  in  her  right  hand  the  olive  branch,  and 

supporting  by  her  left  the  liberty  pole,  surmounted  by  the  cap. 
Legend.— VmTED  STATES 

(Size  8.     See  Plate  XIII.,  Figure  1.) 

This  coin  occurs  frequently  in  copper,  and  in  the  cabinet  of  Joseph  J.  Mickley,  Esq., 
of  Philadelphia,  we  have  found  it  in  silver. 


13 


98  COLONIAL    COINS. 

CONFEDERATIO    CoPPER. 

1785.         Device. — Thirteen   radiating  points,   in  the   centre   of  which   there   are  thirteen 

small  stars. 

Xg^ewcf.— CONFEDERATIO. 

Reverse. — An  Indian  chief,  holding  in  his  left  hand  a  bow,  in  the  right  an  arrow, 

and  from  the  back  depends  a  quiver.     Standing  at  the  right  hand  is 

an  altar. 

Legend.— AMERIQXE A  INIMICA  TYEANS. 

Exergue. — 1785. 

(Size  8.     See  Plate  IX.,  Figure  11.) 

This  copper  is  not  only  interesting  in  itself,  but  because  it  is  very  rare ;  the  specimen 
of  which,  in  the  cabinet  of  Charles  J.  Bushnell,  Esq.,  of  New  York  city,  is  probably 
the  only  one  in  America. 

It  is  well  executed ;  and  its  peculiar  rarity  has  induced  us  to  conclude  that  it  was 
a  pattern  piece,  gotten  up  at  the  sam:e  time  with  the  "Nova  Constellatio"  in  England. 
This,  however,  is  mere  conjecture,  as  it  may  possibly  have  been  as  extensively 
circulated  as  some  others,  but  not  as  highly  favored  in  regard  to  its  general  preservation. 
Our  opinion  is,  that  all  these  coins  subserved  a  very  useful  purpose  in  their  day,  and 
though  not  a  legally  established,  were  still  a  tolerated  currency. 

VERMONT. 
Yermonts.  Res.  Publica. 

1785.  Device. — An  eye,  symbolical  of  Supreme  power,  reflecting  its  rays  upon  thirteen 

six-pointed  stars,  emblematic  of  the  States  of  the  confederacy. 

Legend.— (^J]KRT A  •  DECIMA  •  STELLA  • 

Reverse. — The  sun  rising  from  behind  the  mountains;  in  the  foreground  a  plow. 

ie^en(^.— YERMONTS  •  RES  •  PUBLICA  • 

Exergue. — 1785. 

(Size  8.     See  Plate  IX.,  Figure  12.) 

Yermontensium.  Res.  Publica. 

1786.  Device, — ^An  eye,  symbolical  of  Supreme  power,  reflecting  its  rays  upon  thirteen 

six-pointed  stars,  emblematic  of  the  States  of  the  confederacy. 
Legend.— qX^  ART  A.  •  DECIMA  •  STELLA  • 

Reverse. — The  sun  rising  from  behind  the  mountains ;  in  the  foreground  a  plow, 
ie^enc^. —YERMONTENSIUM  •  RES  •  PUBLICA  • 
Exergue. — 1786. 

(Size  8.     See  Plate  IX.,  Figure  13.) 


COLONIAL    COINS.  99 

Nothing  could  be  more  beautifully  expressive  than  the  device  upon  these  coins.  A 
supreme  overruling  power  had  truly  cast  the  rays  of  approval  upon  the  thirteen  infant 
States  of  the  American  confederacy,  in  their  contest  for  liberty  and  the  just  rights  of 
humanity,  against  the  then,  as  now,  leading  power  of  the  world.  The  rays  of 
Omnipotence  protected  them,  and  finally  led  them  from  vassalage  to  victory. 

The  reverse  upon  these  coins  is  equally  appropriate ;  the  sun,  emblematic  of  rising 
liberty,  even  beyond  the  distant  mountains,  and  that  implement  of  husbandry  and 
emblem  of  peace  —  the  plow  —  in  the  field  beneath. 

Of  the  "  Vermonts.  Res.  Publica,"  1785,  there  were  two  types  and  six  varieties,  the 
reflected  rays  on  tlie  obverse  being  in  one  pointed,  and  in  the  other  obtuse ;  the  device 
the  same.  The  "  Vermontensium.  Res.  Publica,"  but  one  type  and  no  variety.  This 
currency  bears  the  unmistakable  impress  of  an  American  mind :  it  was  well  executed 
upon  good  copper,  and  also  in  an  inferior  metal.  They  are  now  quite  valuable,  because 
it  is  difficult  to  procure  perfect  specimens. 

In  1785,  the  legislature  of  Vermont  granted  to  Reuben  Harmon,  Jr.,  the  right  to 
coin  the  copper  money,  we  have  been  describing,  for  the  period  of  two  years.  The 
mint  for  this  operation  was  established  in  the  town  of  Rupert. 

In  1786,  the  legislature  extended  Harmon's  right  to  coin  these  coppers  for  eight 
years,  from  July,  1787.  Harmon's  association  under  the  original  grant,  consisting  of 
three  others  beside  himself,  added  to  it,  under  the  extension,  some  half  a  dozen  others. 
Thus  organized,  they  agreed  upon  two  mints  or  places  for  the  manufacture  of  their 
coins ;  one  at  Rupert,  above  named,  in  Bennington  county,  and  the  other,  near  "  the 
great  pond"  in  the  county  of  Ulster. 

The  subsequent  emission  of  1788  undoubtedly  wound  up  the  coining  operations  of 
this  association. 

Vermon.  Auctori. 

Device. — A  bust  in  a  coat  of  mail,  head  laureated.  1787. 

Legend.— 'Y'ERMO^  AUCTORI. 

Reverse. — The  Goddess  of  Liberty  seated,  holding  in  her  right  hand  the  liberty  pole,  and 

in  her  left,  the  olive  branch. 

Legend.— JED^  ET  LIB. 

Exergue. — 1787. 

(Size  7  and  8.     See  Plate  IX.,  Figure  15.) 

Of  the  emission  of  this  coin,  we  have  only  been  able  to  discover  three  types  and 
five  varieties,  which  indicate  that  they  made  their  appearance  so  late  in  this  year,  as 
to  be  superseded  in  a  measure  by  the  large  coinage  of  1788.  In  this  way  we  account 
for  their  scarcity.     The  types  and  varieties  were  as  follows : 


100 


COLONIAL    COINS. 


1. 

2. 
3. 

Types. 

VERMON  AUCTORI 
VERMON.  AUCTORI 
VERMON    AUCTORI- 

Position. 

Left 
Right 

Tory  Copper. 

Decoration. 

Laureated 
u 

Varieties. 

3 
1 
1 

1785.        Device. — The  bust  of  George  III.,  head  laureated,  and  facing  to  the  right. 
Legend.— Q^OUGIY^  in.  REX. 
Reverse. — The  Goddess  of  Liberty  seated,  holding  in  her  right  hand  the  liberty  pole, 

surmounted  by  the  cap,  from  which  droops  over  the  right  shoulder  the 

flag,  and  in  the  left  the  scales  of  justice. 

Legend.— IMMXm^  .  COLUMBIA- 

Exergue. — 1785. 

(Size  8.     See  Plate  X.,  Figure  1.) 

Two  years  after  the  acknowledgment  of  our  independence  by  Great  Britain,  this 
coin  —  from  the  date  —  was  thrust  in  some  way  upon  republican  America.  It  is 
peculiar  that  there  should  have  been  such  persistence  in  doing  what,  at  that  time, 
could  not  have  been  agreeable  to  the  mass  of  the  people;  and,  then,  in  the  designs — 
assuming  a  connection  between  George  III.  and  the  Goddess  of  Liberty  —  is  an  act 
difficult  to  be  either  comprehended  or  accommodated. 

There  may  have  been,  as  undoubtedly  there  were,  partizans  of  the  British  monarchy 
then  living  —  in  fact,  we  have  heard  of  such  specimens  of  mankind  —  with  whom  it 
was  a  difficult  task  to  appreciate  the  blessings  of  self-government ;  but  the  feelings  or 
designs  of  such  would  hardly  have  exhibited  themselves  by  the  effigy  of  George  III., 
on  the  obverse  of  a  coin,  and  the  Goddess  of  Liberty,  with  the  liberty  pole,  cap,  and 
scales  of  justice,  on  the  reverse.  Certain  it  is,  that,  at  that  day,  there  was  much  less 
connection  between  the  British  monarchy  and  liberty  than  now,  when  such  emblems 
as  the  latter  would  not  be  tolerated.  Hence,  we  are  at  a  loss  to  comprehend  the  origin 
or  motive  for  the  coinage  or  issue  of  this  piece.  There,  in  the  plate,  however,  is  the 
fac-simile,  speaking  for  itself,  awakening  associations  and  inviting  speculations  of 
the  past. 

When  we  contemplate  our  condition  as  a  nation  and  a  people  now,  with  what  it  was 
at  the  date  of  this  coin  —  1785  —  and  previously,  under  the  old  confederated  govern- 
ment—  involved  in  debt;  with  the  discontent  that  preceded  the  disbanding  of  the 
army,  when  it  became  necessary  for  Washington  to  preface  his  answer  to  its  clamors 
by  —  after  first  wiping  his  spectacles — uttering  the  talismanic  words  :  "  My  eyes  have 
grown  dim  in  the  service  of  my  country,  but  I  never  doubted  her  justice;"  and  the 
great  dissatisf\iction  for  want  of  immediate  or  undeveloped  resources  of  every  kind, 
which  begat,  and  subsequently,  openly  showed  itself  in  portions  of  New  England  —  we 


WIuAVFi,  OL 


LN  K..MMii|ii.l.l/ini  I'Kil.uli' 


COLONIAL    COINS, 


101 


have  much  to  be  thankful  for;  and  also,  that  instead  of  a  currency  —  symbolical  of 
monarchal  power  on  one  side,  and  the  liberty  and  justice  on  the  other,  which  is  weighed 
in  such  scales,  we  have  our  free  native  eagle  and  other  insignia  of  true  liberty  and 
independence. 

Vermon  Auctori. 

1788.        Device. — A  bust  in  a  coat  of  mail,  head  laureated. 
Legend.— V^'KMO^  AUCTORI 
Reverse. — The  Goddess  of  Liberty  seated,  holding  in  her  right  hand  the  liberty 

pole,  and  in  her  left,  the  olive  branch. 
Legend.— mJ)^  *   ET  LIB  * 
Exergue. — 1788. 

(Size  7  and  8.     See  Plate  IX.,  Figure  15.) 

From  the  following  described  types  and  varieties,  it  is  evident  that  the  coining 
association,  we  have  previously  referred  to,  was  equally  emulous,  with  similar 
organizations  in  other  States,  in  supplying  the  people  with  a  copper  currency ;  as  this 
emission,  though  limited  to  the  single  year  it  bears  date,  consisted  of  two  sizes,  thirteen 
types,  and  twenty-six  varieties. 


*  •  Scarce. 


Rare. 


Very  rare. 


102  COLONIAL    COINS. 

The  last  noted,  not  formally  included  in  the  types,  is  said  to  have  been  issued  at 
the  time  when  leading  men  in  Vermont  were  tampered  with  by  partizans  of  the 
British  crown.     We  think  it  furnished  a  bust  for  the  domestic  article. 

The  varieties  of  the  types  are  determined  by  the  punctuation  of  the  legend,  facing 
of  the  bust,  or  decking  of  the  head.  In  some  of  the  varieties  there  are  peculiarities, 
viz :  in  Type  2,  one  variety  has  no  legend  on  the  reverse ;  in  Type  4,  one  variety  has 
INDE  ET  placed  on  the  left  hand  side  of  the  field;  and  in  Type  7,  the  legend  reads, 
LIB  ET  INDE. 

Five  years  after  this  famous  issue  of  copper.  New  York  relinquished  its  claims  to 
jurisdiction  over  Vermont,  which  was  admitted  into  the  Union  in  1793. 

CONNECTICUT. 

AUCTORI   CONNEC. 

Device. — A  bust  in  coat  of  mail,  head  laureated.  and  facing  to  the  right.  1785. 

Legend.— AJJC'TOm  CONNEC 

Reverse. — The  Goddess  of  Liberty  seated  on  the  globe,  facing  to  the  left,  the  liberty  pole, 

surmounted  by  the  cap,  in  the  left  hand,  and  the  olive  branch  in  the  right. 

Legend.— lED^  :  ET  LIB. 

Exergue.  — 1785. 

(Size  8.     See  Plate  X.,  Figures  4  to  10.) 

Connecticut  in  1785  granted  exclusive  permission  to  Samuel  Bishop,  Joseph 
Hopkins,  James  Hillhouse,  and  John  Goodrich,  to  establish  a  mint,  and  coin  money 
for  the  State. 

The  grantees  subsequently  formed  a  copartnership  with  Pierpont  Edwards,  Jonathan 
Ingersoll,  Abel  Buel,  and  Elias  Shipman,  for  coining  coppers.  Six  pennyweights  was 
the  required  amount  of  copper  in  each  of  the  pieces  as  defined  by  statute,  which  also 
designated  a  device. 

A  Board  for  the  inspection  and  approval  of  these  coppers  was  appointed  by  the 
General  Assembly,  composed  of  Roger  Sherman,  James  Wadsworth,  David  Austin, 
Ebenezer  Chittendon,  and  Isaac  Beers.  The  amount  inspected,  during  the  three  years 
the  mint  was  in  operation,  was  twenty-eight  thousand,  nine  hundred  and  forty-four 
pounds,  of  coined  copper. 

In  1786,  Edwards,  Shipman,  and  Ingersoll,  sold  their  interest  to  James  Jarvis,  who 
took  their  places  in  the  company.  In  the  same  year,  the  mint-works  were  leased  to 
Mark  Leavenworth  for  six  weeks,  at  the  expiration  of  which,  Leavenworth  became  a 
purchaser  and  stockholder  in  the  company.  With  frequent  changes  made  in  the 
division  of  shares  up  to  this  period,  the  company  continued  to  coin  coppers  till  June, 
1787,  when  operations  were  brought  to  a  close. 


COLONIAL    COINS.  103 

In  1788,  Major  Eli  Leavensworth  prepared  blank  coppers,  which  were  stamped  in 
New  York,  with  various  impressions. 

The  affairs  of  this  company  were  investigated  by  James  Wadsworth  and  Daniel 
Holbrook,  by  authority  of  an  act  of  Assembly  in  1789.  The  report  was  honorable  to 
the  parties  concerned. 

The  date,  1785,  determines  the  first  appearance  of  these  coins,  and  our  investigations 
have  resulted  in  establishing  for  them  seven  distinct  types,  consisting  of  twenty-eight 
varieties.  In  five  of  these  varieties,  the  bust  faces  to  the  right,  and  in  the  other  ^:wo, 
to  the  left.  The  head  is  unusually  large,  the  face  full  and  round,  and  the  features 
manly — the  anatomical  lineaments  being  better  proportioned  in  fact  than  the  generality 
of  effigies  of  that  period ;  the  bust  in  most  specimens,  represented  in  armor,  and  the 
workmanship  decidedly  better  than  the  issues  of  similar  coins  in  succeeding  years. 
They  are  very  irregular,  however,  in  size  and  weight,  varying  in  the  latter,  by  tests 
made  at  the  United  States  Mint,  from  94  to  144  grains. 

These  coins  must  have  been  a  necessity,  and  a  great  convenience  to  the  people  of 
Connecticut  at  that  time.  There  may  be  a  few,  still  living  in  the  commonwealth  of 
their  origin,  whose  miemories  are  cognizant  of  much  that  would  be  interesting  in 
relation  to  them,  beside  the  statutes  that  gave  them  existence.  Certain  it  is,  that  they 
are  the  representatives  and  memorials  of  an  epoch  in  American  State  coinage,  when 
subjective  relations  had  been  succeeded  by  those  of  entire  independence,  and  the 
Goddess  of  Liberty,  adopted  on  the  reverse  of  the  coins,  could  be  symbolized  and 
worshipped  without  reproach  or  fear. 

The  prominent  genius  and  actor  in  this  coinage  appears  to  have  been  Mr.  Abel  Buel, 
who  was  also  the  master-spirit  in  the  construction  of  the  machinery,  which  was  so 
efficient  as  to  turn  out  one  hundred  and  twenty  pieces  of  the  coin  in  a  minute. 

With  us  this  coinage  had,  without  any  authority  for  it,  become  associated  with 
Simsbury  mines.  We  have  not,  however,  been  able  to  learn  that  any  of  the  copper 
used  in  it  came  from  that  locality.  All  we  can  learn  is,  "  that  the  mines  were  first 
wrought  in  1707,  and  at  that  time,  and  subsequently,  up  to  the  breaking  out  of  the 
Revolutionary  War,  and  that  at  some  period  the  ore  must  have  been  smelted,  as 
appears  from  tradition  and  the  remains  of  old  furnaces." ' 

From  about  the  period  of  the  adoption  of  the  Constitution,  till  1827,  they  were 
famous  as  the  penal  locality  of  Connecticut,  furnishing  an  industrial  home  for  a  class 
who  will  not  appreciate  honest  labor,  nor  be  contented  with  the  moral  restrictions  of 
true  freedom. 

The  types  of  this  coin  are  as  follows : 

'  Jeffrey  0.  Phelps,  Simsbury,  Connecticut. 


104 


COLONIAL    COINS, 


1786. 

TYPES. 

VARIETIES. 

DEGREES 

OP 
RARITY. 

POSITION. 

DECORATION. 

1 

AUCTORI 

CONNEC 

1 

•  •  • 

Faciag  right. 

Laureated. 

2 

AUCTOKI. 

CONNEC 

3 

1  •  • 

(i                u 

3 

. AUCTORI . 

CONNEC . 

4 

>  • 

"       left. 

4 

AUCTORI. 

CONNEC : 

3 

"       right. 

5 

. AUCTORI : 

CONNEC . 

6 

((              a 

6 

AUCTORI : 

CONNEC : 

8 

"       left. 

7 

AUCTORI : 

CONNEC : 

3 

•  • 

"       right. 

8 

AUCTORI : 

CONNEC : 

1 

•  • 

11             a 

Fillet-Festooned. 

This  classification  furnishes,  by  the  punctuation  and  the  direction  of  the  face,  an 
index  by  which  the  type  can  be  determined.  Either  the  figure,  legend,  punctuation, 
or  the  olive  branch,  in  the  left  hand  of  the  Goddess  of  Liberty,  on  the  reverse, 
determines  the  variety.  In  some  of  the  types  there  are  peculiarities,  which  may  not 
at  first  attract  the  attention  of  the  numismatic  student.  In  No.  1,  the  head  of  the 
bust  is  entirely  different  from  the  others,  the  neck  being  unusually  short  and  thick, 
giving  it  a  peculiar  appearance;  No.  2,  the  neck  long;  No.  3,  the  head  large,  neck 
short  and  thick,  and  the  bust  robed  in  a  Roman  tunic,  looped  upon  the  shoulder; 
No.  4,  head  singular,  and  the  face  so  distorted  as  to  be  anything  but  handsome. 

Our  attention  has  also  been  directed  to  what  I  believe  to  be  an  imperfect  specimen 
of  Type  No.  1,  which  appears  to  have  been  impressed  upon  another  copper,  and  the  letters 
of  the  two  coming  in  contact  in  such  a  manner  as  to  cause  the  legend  to  read  ACTI, 
instead  of  Auctori. 

AUCTORI   CONNEC. 

The  coinage  in  this  year  was  increased  in  the  number  of  the  types,  and 
more  care  was  observed  in  milling  the  copper  into  the  required  thickness,  before  1786. 
subjecting  it  to  the  dies ;  thereby  avoiding  injury  to  the  edge  of  the  coins,  which 
is  so  perceptible  in  the  emissions  of  the  preceding  year.  Of  the  issues  of  this  ye.ar, 
we  have  found  eleven  types,  consisting  of  twenty-seven  varieties  —  four  of  the  types 
facing  to  the  right,  and  the  other  seven  to  the  left.  But  two  of  the  types  fillet- 
festooned,  all  the  others  laureated ;  in  some,  the  edges  of  the  leaves  are  serrated. 

The  types  are  as  follows : 


COLONIAL    COINS. 


105 


1786. 

TYPES. 

VARIETIES. 

DEGREES 

OF 
RARITY. 

POSITION. 

DECORATION. 

1 

AUCTORI 

CONNEC 

2 

• 

Facing  right. 

Laureated. 

3 

AUCTORI 

CONNEC 

1 

"       left. 

3 

AUCTORI . 

CONNEC 

1 

• 

((             n 

4 

AUCTORI . 

CONNEC . 

1 

•  • 

"       right. 

5 

AUCTORI: 

CONNEC 

1 

• 

((            a 

6 

AUCTORI . 

CONNEC : 

3 

1  •  • 

((           (I 

7 

AUCTORI . 

CONNEC : 

1 

«       left. 

Fillet. 

8 

AUCTORI : 

CONNEC . 

7 

«              iC 

Laureated. 

9 

AUCTORI . 

.  CONNEC. 

1 

u          u 

IC 

10 

AUCTORI : 

CONNEC : 

4 

1  •  • 

((               C( 

Fillet. 

11 

AUCTORI : 

CONNEC : 

5 

((          11 

Laureated. 

In  Type  1,  the  head  of  the  bust  differs  from  the  others  in  the  arrangement  about 
the  neck,  which  is  much  shorter;  No.  2,  the  face  is  not  prepossessing;  No.  3,  the  neck 
is  unusually  long,  the  bust  in  a  coat  f^  mail;  No.  6,  the  head  very  large,  the  neck 
very  short  and  thick. 

AUCTORI   CONNEC. 

1787.        Device. — A  bust  in  coat  of  mail,  head  laureated,  and  facing  to  the  left. 
Legend.— AXJCTO^l  CONNEC 

Reverse. — The  Goddess  of  Liberty  seated  on  the  globe,  facing  to  the  left,  the  liberty 
pole,  surmounted  by  the   cap,  in  the  left  hand,  and  the  olive  branch 
in  the  right. 
Legend.— mi)  ET  LIB 
Exergue.— 11^1 . 

(Size  8.     See  Plate  X.,  Figures  4  to  10.) 

The  issue  this  year  must  have  been  very  large,  and  have  circulated  in  our  country 
very  extensively ;  for,  at  this  time,  they  can  be  occasionally  found  in  circulation  in 
every  State  of  the  Union,  where  a  copper  currency  is  tolerated.  The  number  of  types 
and  varieties  struck  off  is  uncertain ;  but,  from  an  extensive  examination,  we  have 
been  enabled  to  distinguish  seventy-four  distinct  types,  consisting  of  one  hundred  and 
sixty-four  varieties  —  sufficient  changes  to  ring  upon  a  copper  coin,  even  if  it  does  not 
embrace  a  description  of  every  such  coin  issued. 

The  blanks  upon  which  these  coppers  were  struck  were  generally  very  rough,  but 
of  excellent  material,  and  many  of  the  dies  were  very  poorly  executed.  The  apparent 
haste  with  which  these  pieces  were  gotten  up,  and  the  large  number  coined,  and  put 
14 


106  COLONIAL    COINS. 

in  circulation,  evinced  an  energy  of  purpose  allied  closely,  undoubtedly,  to  gain,  which, 
taking  into  consideration  the  varying  weight  of  from  94  to  144  grains  —  the  latter 
being  required  by  the  statute  authorizing  their  coinage — must  have  been  amply  gratified. 

It  is  believed  and  expressed  by  some,  that  the  bust  upon  these  coins  was  originally 
intended  to  represent  George  TIL  As  we  would  not  question  the  patriotism  of  those 
interested  in  this  coinage,  we  must  conclude  that  the  art  of  design  was  at  so  low  a 
standard  at  that  time,  as  to  compel  the  copying  of  some  bust  of  their  late  sovereign, 
which  was  probably  the  case,  as  we  have  heard  of  a  type  of  these  coins  absolutely 
bearing  the  name  of  George  III.  We  must  suppose,  however,  for  the  honor  of  the 
State  of  Connecticut  and  its  enterprising  merchant  coiners,  that  the  artist  of  this  type 
had  riot  heard  of  the  recognition  of  our  national  independence. 

The  great  variety  of  punctuation  found  upon  the  preceding  and  succeeding  emissions 
of  the  Connecticut  coinage,  suggests  the  idea  that  mere  fancy  would  hardly  have  been 
indulged  in  to  such  an  extent  without  some  purpose  of  utility  in  connection  with  it. 

Our  conclusion,  therefore,  is,  that  it  may  have  been  adopted  to  designate  the  various 
interests  of  the  parties  concerned  —  who  may  have  been  sub-lessees  under  the  original 
grantees  —  or  to  distinguish  the  issues  made  to  purchasers;  which  would,  if  either  of 
our  positions  is  correct,  account  satisfactorily  for  the  very  numerous  distinctive  designs 
and  marks  which  the  tables  disclose. 

These  humble  coppers  were  the  heralds  of  that  genius  for  invention  which  has 
since  so  strongly  marked  the  people  of  Connecticut ;  and  its  results  have  been 
distributed  in  all  sorts  of  manufactures  all  over  our  country  —  a  particular  article  of 
which  has  even  been  sent  abroad,  to  enable  our  trans-atlantic  friends  to  measure  time 
by  republican  pendulums. 

Whatever  has  emanated  from  this  State,  we  may  say,  without  designing  to  make 
any  invidious  comparison  with  her  sister  States,  has,  partaking  of  the  character  of  her 
people,  been  of  utility;  whether  it  has  been  the  small  currency  we  have  described  in 
these  pages,  or  the  cotton-gin  —  an  invention  for  which  the  world  was  waiting,  and 
absolutely  essential  to  its  advancement — inaugurating,  as  it  did,  an  industrial  movement 
which  is  still  onward,  and  to  be  onward,  beyond  the  ken  of  human  prescience  or 
calculation. 


COLONIAL    COINS. 


107 


CONNECTICUT 
TYPES   AND   VARIETIES. 


1787. 


LEGENDS. 


1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

23 

24 

25 

26 

27 

28 

29 

30 

31 

32 

33 

34 


AUCTORI 

AUCTORI 

AUCTORI 

AUCTORI 

AUCTORI . 

AUCTORI . 
.  AUCTORI. 
.  AUCTORI. 

AUCTORI 
.  AUCTORI  . . 
.  AUCTORI.. 

AUCTORI . 

AUCTORI . 

AUCTORI . . 

AUCTORI . . 

AUCTORI : 

AUCTORI : 

AUCTORI : 

AUCTORI : 

AUCIORI  :  + 

AUCTORI :  +  - 

AUCTORI:  A- 
+  AUCTORI:  + 
+  AUCTORI:  + 

AUCTORI:  +  + 

AUCTORI:  +  + 
+  AUCTORI :  +  + 

AUCTORI:  +  + 


-f  AUCTORI 
+  AUCTORI 
+  AUCTORI 
+  AUCTORI 
+  AUCTORI ; 


+  + 

+  + 

+  + 

+  + 

-f  + 


+  AUCTORI  +  +  + 


CONNEC 

CONNEC 

CONNEC 

CONNEC 

CONNEC 

CONNEC 

CONNEC 

CONNEC 

CONNEC 

CONNEC. 

CONNEC 

CONNEC 

CONNEC 

CONNEC 

CONNEC 

CONNEC 

CONNEC 

CONNEC 

CONNEC 

CONNEC 

CONNEC 

CONNEC 

CONNEC 

CONNEC 

CONNEC 

CONNEC 

CONNEC 

CONNEC 

CONNEC 

CONNEC 

CONNEC 

CONNEC : 

CONNEC : 

CONNEC  + 


+ 


+ 


(B    6; 


Left 

Right 

Left 

Right 

Left 

Right 

Left 

Right 

Left 

u 

Right 

Left 

Right 

Left 

Right 

Left 

Right 

Left 

Right 

Left 


DECORATIOIS. 


Right 
Left 
Right 
Left 


Laureated. 

Fillet-Festooned. 
Laureated. 

Fillet-Festooned. 

u 

Laureated. 

Fillet-Festooned. 

Laureated. 


Fillet-Festooned. 

Laureated. 

Fillet-Festooned. 

Laureated. 

Fillet-Festooned. 

Laureated. 

Fillet-Festooned. 

Laureated, 


Fillet-Festooned. 

Laureated. 

Fillet-Festooned. 


108 

COLONIAL 

COINS. 

TYPES   AND   VARIETIES 

—  Continued. 

1787. 

LEGENDS. 

POSITION. 

DECOKATION. 

H 

35 

4-  AUCTORI  +  +  + 

CONNEC  +  . 

•  •  • 

Left 

Fillet-Festooned. 

3 

36 

AUCTORI   ■*- 

CONNEC 

•  •  • 

a 

u 

2 

37 

AUCTORI :  • 

CONNEC 

•  • 

11 

a 

2 

38 

AUCTOPI:  • 

CONNEC . 

•  •  • 

(I 

(( 

1 

39 

AUCTORI:  • 

CONNEC : 

11 

a 

3 

40 

AUCTORI    * 

CONNEC    • 

•  •  • 

Right 

(I 

2 

41 

AUCTORI :  •  * 

CONNEC : 

•  •  • 

Left 

Laureated. 

1 

42 

AUCTORI :  *  * 

CONNEC : • 

• 

a 

u 

2 

43 

^  AUCTORI :  • 

CONNEC : • 

•  • 

u 

a 

1 

44 

^  AUCTORI :  :A- 

CONNEC : • 

• 

Right 

Fillet-Festooned. 

1 

45 

^  AUCTORI    •* 

CONNEC    • 

•  •  • 

Left 

Laureated. 

4 

46 

)f  AUCTORI    •* 

CONNEC    • 

•  • 

Right 

Fillet-Festooned. 

3 

47 

^AUCTORI    ** 

CONNEC.  • 

•  •  • 

Left 

Laureated. 

1 

48 

^AUCTORI    •• 

CONNEC.  • 

•  •  • 

iC 

<( 

1 

49 

^  AUCTORI.  •  * 

CONNEC.  • 

(C 

u 

6 

50 

*  AUCTORI :  •  • 

CONNEC : 

<l 

il 

3 

51 

>f  AUCTORI:  •• 

CONNEC : • 

u 

u 

36 

52 

^AUCTORI:** 

CONNEC : • 

•  •  • 

(I 

u 

1 

53 

4  AUCTORI    •  *  ■*■ 

CONNEC    • 

•  •  • 

u 

(( 

1 

54 

^AUCTORI    *** 

CONNEC   •• 

•  •  • 

(( 

i( 

2 

55 

If  AUCTORI   ••• 

CONNEC   •• 

•  •  • 

Right 

Fillet-Festooned. 

1 

56 

>f  AUCTORI   •*•• 

CONNECT*  • 

•  •  • 

Left 

(( 

1 

57 

AUCTURI  •••• 

CONNEC   •  • 

•  •  • 

u 

a 

1 

58 

AUCTORI  ^ 

CONNEC 

•  •  • 

Right 

cc 

1 

59 

AUCTORI  ^ 

CONNEC 

Left 

Laureated. 

2 

60 

AUCTORI   ^  * 

CONNEC    ^ 

Right 

Fillet-Festooned. 

2 

61 

AUCTORI  ^  * 

CONNEC    ^ 

•  •  • 

Left 

« 

2 

62 

*  AUCTORI   ^  * 

CONNEC    ^ 

a 

Laureated 

1 

63 

*  AUCTORI   *  * 

CONNEC    ^ 

•  •  • 

Right 

Fillet-Festooned. 

1 

64 

♦  AUCTORI    *  *  '♦^ 

CONNEC 

a 

(( 

1 

65 

♦  AUCTORI   ^-  *  ^ 

CONNEC. 

(( 

a 

1 

66 

AUCTORI   •*■-* 

CONNEC 

•  •  • 

Left 

Laureated. 

2 

67 

AUCTORI.  •<--* 

CONNEC 

u 

il 

1 

68 

AUCTORI  :«<--^ 

CONNEC 

•  •  • 

(I 

Cl 

2 

69 

AUCTOBI:  '^^ 

CONNEC 

•  •  • 

(I 

u 

1 

70 

AUCTORI  :•<"> 

CONNEC :  ^ 

a 

u 

4 

71 

^  AUCTORI:  •*•-* 

CONNEC : ^ 

u 

(( 

3 

72 

^AUCTORI    -^^^ 

CONNEC.  «s. 

•  • 

Right 

Fillet-Festooned. 

2 

73 

-*  AUCTORI    •<-->*• 

CONNEC :  •*^ 

•   o  • 

(( 

« 

1 

COLONIAL    COINS.  109 

AUCTORI   CONNEC.  .1 

Types. — Though  the  preceding  table  clearly  designates  each  and  every  type     1787. 
it  has  been  our  good  fortune  to  discover,  by  the  different  punctuations  of  the 
legends,  we  have  deemed  it  relevant  to  notice  more  particularly  a  few  of  the  specimens 
of  this  coin  which  are  peculiar,  or  considered  to  be  extremely  rare. 

No.  1.  The  head  is  large,  and  the  fillet  extends  down  to  the  legend,  which,  on  the  left 
hand  side  of  the  goddess,  on  the  reverse,  reads,  "INDE  ET,"  and  on  the  right  hand,  LIB. 

No.  2.  The  head  is  unusually  small,  faces  to  the  right,  and  the  ends  of  the  fillet  are 
quite  short.  The  legend  on  the  reverse,  on  the  left  hand  side  of  the  goddess,  reads, 
"  LIB  ET,"  and  on  the  right  hand,  "  INDE."  This  type  is  considered  extremely  rare, 
and  is  found  but  in  few  cabinets. 

No.  5.  Not  peculiar,  but  extremely  rare.  We  have,  in  all  our  researches,  seen  but 
two  specimens  of  this  type. 

No.  6.  The  head  small  and  nearly  round,  and  the  neck  and  bust  short.  Reverse 
legend  reads,  "  ET  LIB  INDE."  Extremely  rare  j  but  one  specimen  has  come  under 
our  notice. 

No.  8.  The  head  small  and  round,  facing  to  the  left,  and  the  hair  a  series  of 
continuous  small  lines.  The  fillet  terminates  in  a  bow,  in  the  centre  of  which  there 
IS  a  circular  ring.  This  type  is  quite  thin,  the  lightest,  we  believe,  coined  in  this  year. 
It  is  known  as  the  "  laughing  effigy  piece  ;"the  legend  thus,  "  INDE  :  *  j^  ^  ET  •  LIB  :" 

Nos.  9  and  10.  Both  of  these  types  are  extremely  rare,  the  latter  the  most  so,  being 
familiarly  known  as  the  "Africanus,  or  negro  head." 

Nos.  11,  13,  15,  17,  and  19,  we  notice  on  account  of  the  variation  in  the 
punctuation,  and  their  extreme  rarity. 

No.  20.  This  type  is  peculiar  on  account  of  an  error  in  the  legend  —  I  occupying 
the  place  of  T,  thus :  "AUCIORI,"  instead  of  "AUCTORL"  It  is  considered  to  be 
extremely  rare. 

No.  22.  This  type  is  much  more  rare  than  any  of  those  punctuated  with  the  cross, 
that  precede  it. 

Nos.  23,  24,  25,  29,  31,  and  35,  are  rarely  met  with,  and  are  found  but  in  few 
cabinets. 

No.  39.  The  legend  on  the  obverse  reads,  "AUCTOPI,"  and  the  letters  are  unusually 
large.     We  have  seen  it  in  two  specimens,  and  it  is  extremly  rare. 

Nos.  41,  42,  44,  46,  and  48.   All  extremely  rare. 

No.  49.  The  legend,  on  the  obverse  of  this  type,  reads,  "AUCTOBE."  We  have 
seen  two  specimens  of  the  same." 


110  COLONIAL    COINS. 

No  53.  This  type  is  in  our  cabinet.  We  have  neither  seen  nor  heard  of  a  similar 
piece,  and  it  is  considered  by  all  who  have  seen  it,  as  unique. 

Nos.  54,  55,  and  56,  are  seldom  met  with,  and  extremely  rare. 

No.  57.  The  legend  in  this  type  ends  with  the  letter  T,  thus:  "AUCTORI 
CONNECT,"  and,  from  the  number  of  stars  with  which  it  is  punctuated,  it  has  been 
denominated  one  of  the  "  seven  sleepers,"  from  having  slept  so  long  undiscovered. 
There  is  a  peculiar  coincidence  in  the  design  or  arrangement  of  this  coin :  there  are 
seven  letters  in  each  of  the  words  which  form  the  legend,  which  is  punctuated  with 
seven  stars ;  the  fillet  is  ornamented  with  seven  balls ;  there  are  seven  divisions  of  the 
coat  of  mail  on  the  shoulder ;  and  the  goddess,  on  the  reverse,  holds  a  branch  with 
seven  divisions  or  leaves.  We  have  seen  but  four  specimens  of  this  type,  two  of 
which  are  in  our  cabinet. 

Nos.  58,  59,  and  60.  The  legends  upon  these  types  are  punctuated  with  six-pointed 
stars ;  considered  extremely  rare. 

No.  62.  Small  head  and  bust,  and  the  punctuation  commences  with  a  small  cross  or 
quatre-foil,  and  terminates  with  six-pointed  stars.  On  the  reverse,  the  punctuation  is 
reversed.     This  type  is  exceedingly  rare. 

Nos.  65  and  67.     Fleur-de-lis  punctuation;  seldom  found  in  any  cabinet. 

No.  68.  This  is  the  most  extraordinary  combination  of  errors  in  lettering  that  we  have 
met  with  in  any  type.  The  legend,  on  the  obverse,  reads,  "AUCTOBI,"  and  on  the 
reverse,  "INDE  ET  LIR."    We  have  seen  but  a  single  specimen,  which  is  in  our  cabinet. 

Nos.  72  and  73.    Types  which  are  extremely  rare. 

AUCTORI   CONNEC. 

According  to  our  researches  and  classification  which  follow,  there  were,  of 
1788.  the  issue  of  this  year,  twenty-five  types  and  thirty-four  varieties;  and  if  the 
number  of  the  latter  is  an  index  of  the  amount  of  circulation,  the  business  of 
the  year  could  not  have  been  large.  The  inference  that  the  circulation  of  this  year  was 
limited,  is  sustained  by  the  fact,  that  specimens  of  this  emission  are  scarce,  and 
consequently,  rare.  We  may  certainly  conclude  that  this  was  the  final  emission  of 
these  coins,  the  Federal  Constitution  —  adopted  the  previous  year  —  having  assumed 
entire  control  over  the  coinage  of  the  country. 

It  will  be  found,  previously  stated  —  derived  from  the  records  of  the  State  of 
Connecticut  —  that  the  company,  to  whom  the  coining  of  these  coppers  was  granted, 
closed  its  operations  in  June,  1787;  that  Major  Leavenworth  prepared  blank  coppers, 
which  were  struck  off  in  New  York ;  also,  that  the  Board  for  inspection  and  approval 
of  these  coppers,  exercised  that  authority  for  three  years.     A  few  blanks  may  have 


COLONIAL    COINS, 


111 


been  impressed  in  New  York,  but  the  question  arises,  was  the  emission  of  this  year 
struck  off  in  New  York  or  Connecticut  ?  The  former  would  have  involved  the  removal 
of  dies  and  machinery,  or  the  constructing  and  putting  up  of  new;  and  we  are, 
therefore,  inclined  to  think  that  it  was  struck  off  in  Connecticut,  as  the  affairs  of  the 
company  were  not  finally  investigated  till  1789. 

AUCTORI    CONNEC. 


1788. 
1 

TTPES. 

< 
2 

POSITION. 

DECORATION. 

AUCTORI 

CONNEC 

•  •  • 

Facing  left. 

Fillet-Festooned. 

2 

AUCTORI . 

CONNEC 

1 

t  •  • 

u 

(( 

ii           11 

3 

AUCTORI . 

CONNEC . 

2 

(C 

i( 

11           11 

4 

.AUCTORI. 

CONNEC . 

1 

1  •  • 

a 

11 

11           11 

5 

AUCTORI . 

CONNEC:  •:• 

1 

»  •  • 

li 

li 

Laureated. 

6 

AUCTORI:  + 

CONNEC : + 

1 

»  •  • 

u 

right. 

7 

AUCTORI 

CONNEC     4 

2 

a 

a 

8 

AUCTORI . 

CONNEC     4 

2 

ii 

left. 

9 

AUCTORI  :¥ 

CONNEC 

1 

a 

a 

10 

-k  AUCTORI 

CONNEC     4 

1 

t  •  • 

a 

a 

11 

AUCTORI   -V--^ 

CONNEC . 

1 

a 

right. 

Fillet-Festooned. 

12 

AUCTORI  4-f 

CONNEC     4 

3 

(( 

(( 

11           11 

13 

•  AUCTORI  4-¥- 

CONNEC 

2 

(( 

left. 

Laureated. 

14 

AUCTORI.  4 

CONNEC  04 

2 

(C 

right. 

15 

•  AUCTORI    4-^ 

CONNEC     4 

1 

(( 

left. 

16 

•  AUCTORI.  •  • 

CONNEC     4 

2 

(( 

a 

17 

•  AUCTORI.  •  * 

CONNEC.   4 

(I 

a 

18 

•  AUCTORI    ••• 

CONNEC     4 

ii 

a 

19 

•  AUCTORI    •  •  •  • 

CONNECT  4  ¥■ 

2 

(t 

li 

Fillet-Festooned. 

20 

AUCTORI .  • 

CONNEC 

(( 

right. 

Laureated. 

21 

AUCTORI   •  • 

CONNEC    ^ 

C( 

left. 

Fillet-Festooned. 

22 

•¥•  AUCTORI  c§j 

CONNEC  c§D 

(( 

right. 

Laureated. 

23 

AUCTORI  -Jf  * 

CONNEC  * 

i( 

left. 

(( 

24 

*  AUCTORI  * 

CONNEC  * 

it 

11 

Fillet-Festooned. 

25 

*  AUCTORI  *  * 

CONNEC  * 

(C 

11 

11          11 

In  addition  to  the  preceding,  our  attention  has  been  arrested  by  a  specimen,  which, 
by  some,  is  supposed  to  be  another  distinct  type — the  device  being  struck,  as  we  think, 
crosswise  of  a  "  Franklin  copper,"  and  the  two  thus  so  blended  together  as  to  render 
neither  intelligible.     The  head  on  this  piece  is  unusually  small,  and  faces  to  the  right. 


112  COLONIAL    COINS. 

the  features  of  the  face  very  regular,  the  hair  folds  under,  a  band  crosses  to  the  back 
part  of  the  head,  and  the  ends  of  the  same  protrude  behind.  The  legend  is  not 
decipherable;  and  if  it  is  a  type,  which  we  are  inclined  to  doubt,  it  is  entirely 
new  to  us. 

Of  the  types.  No.  8,  an  unusually  small  head,  very  regular  features,  and  considered 
to  be  very  rare.  No.  10,  head  and  neck  immoderately  large,  and  quite  rare.  No.  14, 
the  punctuation  of  which  terminates  with  the  amulet  and  a  five-pointed  star,  is 
extremely  rare,  and  perhaps  unique,  as  we  have  never  seen  but  one  specimen.  No.  19, 
like  No.  57,  in  the  issues  of  1787,  reads  as  in  that  specimen,  AUCTORI  CONNECT, 
and  like  that,  is  punctuated  by  seven  five-pointed  stars. 

AucTORi  Plebis. 

1787.         Device. — An  unusually  large  bust,  the  head  laureated,  and  facing  to  the  left. 
Legend.— <%>  AUCTORI  :  ^  PLEBIS. 
Reverse. — The  Goddess  of  Liberty  seated  on  a  bale,  the  right  hand  resting  on  the 

globe.     On  her  left  a  large  anchor,  on  which  she  is  reclining,  while  her 

foot  rests  upon  a  lion. 

Legend.— mj)^  ET  LIBER.,  with  amulets. 

Exergue. — 1787. 

(Size  8.     See  PlateX,  Figure  2.) 

Some  authors  have  stated  that  this  coin  was  struck  ofi:'  in  England,  and  sent  to 
Connecticut  for  circulation.  We  have  been  unable  to  find  any  authority  to  sustain 
this  statement.  On  the  contrary,  its  resemblance  to  the  "Auctori  Connec,"  indicates 
that  it  was  coined  in  Connecticut,  though  for  reasons  which  are  not  apparent,  the 
emission  must  have  been  very  limited. 

Of  this  coin,  we  have  met  with  but  one  type,  consisting  of  three  varieties.  They 
are  in  an  unusually  fine  state  of  preservation,  having  been  manufactured  of  good 
copper,  properly  tempered  and  milled. 

It  is  considered  to  be  particularly  rare,  and  can  be  found  in  but  few  cabinets. 

NEW    JERSEY. 
New  Jersey  Coppers. 

Device.  —  A   shield,   in   the   shape    of   a  heart,   with    stripes    thereon,   running 

longitudinally.  1786. 

Legend.— E  .  PLURIBUS  .  UNUM. 
Reverse. — A  plough,  surmounted  by  a  horse's  head. 
Legend.— EOYX  C^SAREA. 
Exergue.— Yl^%. 

(Size  8.     See  Plate  X.,  Figures  11  to  21.) 


COLONIAL    COINS.  113 

The  earliest  record,  relative  to  a  copper  circulation  in  the  State  of  New  Jersey,  was 
in  the  year  1682,  which  State  was  then  called  Nova  Caesarea.  It  appears  that  the 
Assembly  of  that  year  passed  a  resolution,  "  that  for  the  more  convenient  payment  of 
small  sums  of  money,  Mark  Newby's  coppers  —  called  'Patrick  half-pence' — should 
pass  as  half-pence,  current  pay;  provided  he  give  security  to  the  Speaker  of  the 
Assembly  that  he,  his  executors,  and  administrators  will  redeem  them  on  demand ;  it 
being  further  provided,  that  no  one  should  be  obliged  to  take  more  than  five  shillings 
of  them  in  any  one  payment." 

These  Newby  coppers,  or  Patrick  half-pence,  were  really  Irish  half-pence,  which 
Mark  Newby  had  purchased  and  brought  over  with  him  from  England,  and  which, 
with  other  coins  of  a  similar  character  subsequently  introduced,  constituted  the  copper 
circulation  of  what  is  now  New  Jersey  for  upwards  of  a  century. 

"  During  the  year  1786,  a  proposal  was  made  to  the  Legislature  of  the  State  of  New 
Jersey,  then  in  session,  by  Walter  Mould,  Thomas  Goadsby,  and  Albion  Cox,  for 
authority  to  coin  a  certain  sum  in  copper.  The  proposal  was  referred  to  a  committee, 
of  whom  Abraham  Clark  was  chairman,  who,  after  having  had  a  conference  with  the 
petitioners  upon  the  subject,  made  a  report  favorable  to  the  object  of  the  petition. 
Accordingly,  on  the  first  day  of  June  following,  an  act  was  passed  by  the  Legislature, 
authorizing  the  parties  to  strike  copper  coins  to  the  amount  in  value  of  ^10,000,  at 
the  rate  of  fifteen  coppers  to  the  shilling,  each  coin  to  be  of  the  weight  of  six 
pennyweight  and  six  grains,  to  be  manufactured  in  the  State,  and  to  have  such  marks 
and  inscriptions  as  shall  be  directed  by  the  Justice  of  the  Supreme  Court,  or  any  one 
of  them. 

"  The  contractors,  before  proceeding  upon  the  business  of  coining,  were,  moreover, 
to  enter  into  bonds  to  the  Governor,  to  the  use  of  the  State,  in  the  sum  of  .£10,000, 
with  at  least  two  sufficient  securities,  that  they  would,  within  two  years  from  the 
publication  of  the  act,  coin  the  full  sum  of  .£10,000  in  copper,  and  faithfully  and 
honestly  perform  their  contract.  They  were  also  to  deliver  to  the  Treasurer  of  the 
State,  for  the  use  of  the  State,  one-tenth  part  of  the  full  sum  so  struck  by  them,  which 
amount  was  to  be  paid  quarterly,  and  they  were  likewise  required  to  account  to  the 
Legislature  for  the  faithful  execution  of  the  trust  reposed  in  them. 

"  On  the  22d  day  of  November  in  the  same  year,  a  supplemental  act  was  passed,  in 
the  preamble  to  which,  after  setting  forth  that  the  good  intentions  of  the  people  of  the 
State  were  likely  to  be  defeated  by  the  circumstance  of  the  parties  being  jointly  bound 
to  execute  the  contract,  Thomas  Goadsby  and  Albion  Cox  were  authorized  to  coin 
two-thirds  of  the  amount  of  £10,000,  and  Walter  Mould  the  remainder,  and  in  case 
of  any  neglect  or  refusal  on  the  part  of  Mr.  Mould  to  comply  with  the  conditions,  and 
15 


IH  ,    COLONIAL    COINS. 

enter  upon  the  performance  of  his  part  of  the  coining,  within  two  months  from  the 
date  of  the  passage  of  the  act,  then  the  whole  amount  of  the  coinage  was  to  be  carried 
on  by  the  other  parties ;  any  neglect  on  the  part  of  either  party  to  give  the  required 
bond,  rendering  him  liable  to  forfeit  and  pay  the  sum,  to  be  recovered  in  the  same 
manner  that  other  persons  were  made  liable  to  pay,  for  striking  or  coining  copper  by 
the  previous  act. 

"  The  Legislature  desirous  to  protect  the  contractors  in  their  operations  as  far  as 
possible,  it  was  still  further  enacted  on  the  4th  day  of  June,  1789,  that  a  penalty  of 
ten  times  the  nominal  value  of  the  sum  or  sums  so  offered  in  payment,  should  be 
imposed  on  any  person  or  persons  who  offered  to  pass  in  payment  or  exchange  any 
coppers  others  than  those  coined  under  and  by  the  authority  of  the  acts  subsequently 
passed  by  the  Legislature  of  the  State,  or  any  which  might  be  issued  under  the 
authority  of  the  government  of  the  United  States. 

"Albion  Cox  and  "Walter  Mould,  two  of  the  before  named  contractors,  were  merchants 
of  standing  and  responsibility  in  the  city  of  New  York  —  the  former  carrying  on 
business  at  No.  240  Queen  st.,  and  the  latter  at  No.  23  William  st." ' 

Thus  we  have  the  origin  of,  and  authority  for,  the  "  Nova  Caesarea,"  numerous 
varieties  of  which  were  issued  in '1786,  '87,  and  '88.  Of  one  hundred  specimens, 
taken  indiscriminately,  we  find  that  they  vary  in  size  from  7  to  9,  and  in  weight,  from 
123  to  156  grains  —  showing  that  but  little  system  existed  in  their  coinage. 

In  the  following  description  of  the  coins,  we  have  been  compelled  to  depart  from 
the  generally  established  rule  of  numismatologists,  of  giving  the  obverse,  because  it 
would  be  impossible  to  type  them  in  that  way,  for  the  reason  that  the  punctuation  is 
nearly  the  same,  and  the  shields,  except  in  a  few  cases,  without  sufficient  variation  to 
establish  a  proper  distinction.  On  the  reverse,  however,  there  is  ample  material,  in 
the  form  of  the  plow  and  its  appendages,  the  horse's  head  and  the  legend,  to  designate 
satisfactorily  and  clearly  each  and  every  type  of  these  coins,  that  diligent  and  extensive 
research  has  brought  to  our  notice. 

*  Bushnell. 


COLONIAL    COINS. 


115 


TYPES  AND  VARIETIES  OF  THE  NOVA  C^SAREA. 


1786. 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

LEGENDS. 

a 
o 

o 

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NOVA  C^SAKEA 
NOVA  CiESAREA 
NOVA  C^SAREA 
NOVA  CiESAREA 
NOVA  C^SAREA 
NOVA  C^SAREA 
NOVA  C^SAREA 
NOVA  C^SAREA 
NOVA  C^SAREA 
NOVA  C^SAREA 
NOVA  CiESAREA 
NOVA  C^SAREA 

•  • 
•  •  • 

+ 
+ 

+ 

+ 
+ 

+ 
+ 

+ 
+ 
+ 

Nova  C^sarea. 

The  types  and  varieties  of  this  coin,  issued  in  this  year,  were  of  the  former, 
twelve,  and  of  the  hitter,  thirty.     We  have  deemed  it  assisting  to  the  student     1786. 
to  particularize  some  of  the  types,  and  describe  the  most  prominent  features  of 
the  same,  in  order  to  facilitate  the  use  of  the  table. 

Types. — No.  1  may  be  determined  by  the  long,  straight  beam  in  the  plow,  which  is 
nearly  on  a  line  with  the  upper  part  of  the  handles.  The  shield  is  of  the  medium 
size.     We  have  met  with  but  three  varieties  of  this  type,  and  consider  it  rare. 

No.  2.  This  differs  from  the  preceding  in  the  size  of  the  horse's  head,  which  is  much 
smaller ;  the  single-tree  is  placed  further  back  from  the  end  of  the  beam ;  the  space 
between  the  handles  is  somewhat  wider,  and  the  beginning  of  the  legend  is  double  the 
distance  from  the  handles. 

No.  3.  The  handles  in  this  type  are  much  shorter,  and  converge  toward  the  ends 
till  they  meet ;  the  legend,  in  both  its  beginning  and  ending,  closely  approaches  the 
plow.     This  type  is  getting  to  be  scarce. 


116  COLONIAL    COINS. 

No.  4.  The  handles  of  the  plow  in  this  type  terminate  with  round  ends,  and  being 
the  only  one  of  the  kind  we  have  found,  this  feature  of  itself  will  be  sufficient  to 
distinguish  it.     The  shield  is  small  in  all  the  varieties  of  this  type,  which  is  rare. 

No.  5.  In  this  type,  the  handles  of  the  plow  are  very  long,  and  the  beam  is  straight, 
with  a  short  curve  at  the  end ;  the  shield  is  badly  proportioned.  It  is  found  but  in 
few  cabinets,  and  is  quite  rare. 

No.  6.  The  horse's  head  is  small,  and  placed  up  high  above  the  plow,  the  mane  is  thin, 
and  the  die  was  slightly  broken  near  the  figure  six.  The  shield  is  among  the  largest ; 
and  this  type  is  very  rare,  we  having  never  seen  but  one  variety  of  it. 

No.  7.  In  this  type,  the  handles  of  the  plow  are  closed,  the  beam  curves  very 
much  upwards ;  the  mould-board  is  twice  the  ordinary  length ;  the  lettering  of 
the  legend  is  very  roughly  executed,  and  irregularly  arranged,  and  the  shield  is  long 
and  narrow.     As  a  whole,  it  is  a  very  rude  effort  at  die-sinking. 

No.  8.  The  handles  of  the  plow  are  unusually  long  and  slight,  with  the  legend  very 
near  to  them ;  the  beam  is  placed  much  lower  than  any  of  the  others,  and  the  shield  is 
among  the  largest.     We  have  found  but  one  variety  of  this  type,  which  is  quite  rare. 

No.  10  may  be  distinguished  by  the  figure  six  in  the  exergue,  not  extending  beyond 
the  termination  of  the  curve  of  the  handles  of  the  plow.  Tliis  peculiarity,  we  believe, 
does  not  occur  in  any  other  type.     The  shield  is  narrow  and  long. 

No.  11.  The  handles  are  widely  apart  in  the  centre;  the  beam  is  very  thick;  the 
horse's  head  placed  up  high  above  the  plow,  and  the  shield  is  small  and  long.  There  are 
but  two  varieties  of  this  type,  which  is  extremely  rare. 

No.  12.  In  this  type,  the  handles  of  the  plow  are  much  wider  apart  than  any 
previously  described ;  the  beam  is  quite  short,  and  curved  at  both  ends,  and  the  single- 
tree touches  the  coulter  and  runs  parallel  with  it.  The  shield  is  one  of  the  largest. 
This  type  affords  but  two  varieties,  and  though  it  is  considered  the  most  common  among 
those  having  the  large  shield,  yet  it  is  by  no  means  numerous. 


COLONIAL   COINS 

117 

TYPES  AND  VARIETIES  OF   THE 

NOVA 

C^SAREA. 

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NOVA  C^SAREA 

+ 

•  • 

2 

NOVA  C^SAREA 

+ 

•  •  • 

+ 

+ 

+ 

+ 

+ 

2 

3 

NOVA  C.ESAREA 

+ 

• 

+ 

+ 

+ 

+ 

+ 

5 

4 

NOVA  CiESAREA 

+ 

•  • 

+ 

+ 

+ 

+ 

+ 

2 

5 

NOVA  C^SAREA 

+ 

•  • 

+ 

+ 

+ 

+ 

+ 

1 

6 

NOVA  C^SAREA 

+ 

•  •  • 

+ 

+ 

+ 

+ 

+ 

+ 

+ 

1 

7 

NOVA  CiESAREA 

+ 

•  •  • 

+ 

+ 

+ 

+ 

+ 

+ 

2 

8 

NOVA  C^SAREA 

+ 

•  •  • 

+ 

+ 

+ 

+ 

+ 

+ 

2 

9 

NOVA  C^SAREA 

+ 

• 

+ 

+ 

4- 

+ 

+ 

2 

10 

NOVA  C^SAREA 

+ 

4- 

+ 

+ 

+ 

+ 

+ 

3 

11 

NOVA  C^SAREA 

+ 

• 

+ 

+ 

+ 

+ 

+ 

4 

12 

NOVA  C^SAREA 

+ 

• 

+ 

+ 

+ 

+ 

+ 

2 

13 

NOVA  CiESAREA 

+ 

•  • 

+ 

+ 

+ 

+ 

+ 

1 

14 

NOVA  C^SAREA 

+ 

•  •  • 

+ 

+ 

+ 

+ 

+ 

5 

15 

NOVA  C^SAREA 

+ 

+ 

+ 

+ 

+ 

+ 

5 

16 

NOVA  C^SAREA 

+ 

• 

+ 

+ 

+ 

+ 

+ 

3 

17 

NOVA  C^SAREA 

+ 

•  •  • 

+ 

+ 

+ 

+ 

+ 

1 

18 

NOVA  C^SAREA 

+ 

+ 

+ 

+ 

+ 

+ 

3 

19 

NOVA  C^SAREA 

+ 

• 

+ 

+ 

+ 

+ 

+ 

2 

20 

NOVA  C^SAREA 

+ 

•  • 

+ 

+ 

+ 

+ 

+ 

1 

21 

NOVA  C^SAREA 

+ 

•  •  • 

+ 

+ 

+ 

+ 

+ 

1 

22 

NOVA  C^SAREA 

+ 

•  •  • 

+ 

+ 

+ 

+ 

+ 

1 

23 

NOVA  C^SAREA 

+ 

+ 

+ 

+ 

+ 

+ 

+ 

+ 

4 

24 

NOVA  C^SAREA 

+ 

•  • 

+ 

+ 

+ 

+ 

+ 

+ 

3 

25 

NOVA  C^SAREA 

+ 

• 

+ 

+ 

+ 

+ 

+ 

2 

26 

NOVA  C^SAREA 

+ 

•  • 

+ 

+ 

+ 

+ 

+ 

2 

27 

NOVA  C^SAREA 

+ 

•  •• 

+ 

+ 

+ 

+ 

+ 

+ 

3 

28 

NOVA  C^SAREA 

+ 

•  •• 

+ 

+ 

+ 

+ 

J- 

+ 

1 

29 

NOVA  C^SAREA . 

+ 

•  •• 

+ 

+ 

+ 

+ 

+ 

1 

30 

NOVA  C^SAREA 

+ 

•  •  • 

+ 

+ 

-f 

+ 

+ 

1 

118  COLONIAL   COINS. 

The  number  of  types  and  varieties  of  this  year's  issue,  as  far  as  we  have 
1787.  been  able  to  determine  from  the  examination  of  several  thousand  specimens, 
is  thirty  of  the  former,  and  seventy  of  the  latter. 

Types.  —  No.  1.  This  type  may  be  determined  by  the  lower  handle  of  the  plow 
being  much  shorter  than  the  upper;  the  upper  one  being  almost  on  a  parallel  line  with 
the  beam ;  the  space  between  the  handles,  very  narrow,  and  they  nearer  to  the  legend 
than  the  beam,  by  one  half.  The  letter  C  in  the  legend  is  between  the  horse's  ears ; 
the  centre  of  the  shield,  which  is  the  medium  size,  points  between  the  letters  B  and  U 
in  the  legend  on  the  reverse. 

No.  2.  The  handles  of  the  plow  of  nearly  equal  length,  close  together,  and  nearly  in 
a  line  with  the  beam ;  both  being  the  same  distance  below  the  legend.  The  single-tree 
in  this  type  is  double  the  distance  from  the  end  of  the  beam  of  that  in  No.  1. 

No.  3.  The  handles  and  beam  in  this  type,  nearer  a  level  than  in  either  of  the 
types  named  in  this  year,  the  legend  nearly  touching  them ;  the  left  ear  of  the  horse 
points  midway  to  the  C  in  the  legend.  The  shield,  of  the  medium  size,  points  from  its 
centre  to  the  first  line  of  the  U  in  the  legend,  Two  of  the  varieties  in  this  type  were 
struck  off  on  large  planchets. 

No.  4.  The  handles  of  the  plow  in  this  type  are  thick  and  heavy,  with  a  decided 
curve,  the  beam  straight ;  it  touches  the  lower  part  of  the  thick  line  of  the  A  in  the 
legend,  and  the  handles  are  about  their  own  thickness  below  the  N  in  the  same.  The 
coulter  is  thick  and  terminates  squarely ;  the  letter  C  between  the  horse's  ears,  and  the 
shield,  the  medium  size,  points  from  its  centre  to  the  hair  line  in  the  U  in  the  legend. 

No.  5.  The  handles  and  beam  of  the  plow  are  low,  and  about  their  thickness,  at 
each  end,  below  the  legend.  The  right  ear  of  the  horse's  head  touches  the  letter  C 
in  the  same,  midway ;  the  shield  is  of  the  medium  size,  and  points  from  the  centre 
to  the  outer  form  of  the  letter  S  in  the  legend. 

No.  6.  May  be  determined  by  the  handles  being  wrought  down  small  at  the  ends, 
and  terminating  in  balls.  The  horse's  ears  are  to  the  left  of  the  letter  C  in  the  legend; 
the  shield,  of  the  medium  size,  points  from  its  centre,  between  the  letters  B  and  U,  in 
the  legend  on  the  reverse. 

No.  7.  The  handles  of  the  plow,  the  same  as  in  the  preceding  type,  but  the  C  in  the 
legend  is  between  the  horse's  ears,  and  the  beginning  of  the  same  much  higher.  A 
medium  shield,  the  centre  of  which  points  midway  to  the  letter  B  in  the  legend,  on  the 
reverse ;  the  R  in  the  same  shows  that  the  die  must  have  been  broken. 

No.  8.  The  balls  on  the  handles  of  the  plow  in  this  type,  are  double  the  size  of  those 
previously  described.  The  shield  of  the  medium  size,  and  points  from  its  centre 
between  the  B  and  U  in  the  legend  on  the  reverse,  and  in  many  of  this  type  there  is 
a  line,  from  a  defective  die,  which  strikes  diagonally  the  U  in  "  PLURIBUS." 


COLONIAL   COINS.  119 

No.  9.  In  this  type  the  handles  reach  above  the  N  in  the  legend,  and  the  beam 
curves  up  to  the  A  in  its  termination.  The  letter  C  not  exactly  between  the  horse's 
ears ;  the  shield  of  the  medium  size,  and  its  centre  points  to  the  first  line  of  the  letter 
B  in  the  legend  on  the  reverse. 

No.  10.  The  plow  large  and  heavy,  the  beam  slightly  curved  at  each  end,  the  lower 
handle  the  longest,  the  coulter  rests  on  the  mould-board,  and  the  single-tree  is  close 
to  the  end  of  the  beam.  The  letter  C,  in  the  legend,  nearly  between  the  ears  of  the 
horse ;  the  shield  slightly  below  the  medium  size,  and  its  centre  points  slightly  to  the 
right  of  the  first  line  of  the  letter  U  in  the  legend  on  the  reverse. 

No.  11.  The  planchets  of  this  type  are  unusually  small,  and  the  devices  accordingly. 
The  horse's  ears  point  between  the  letters  C  and  A;  the  beam  of  the  plow  has  a 
gradual  curve  toward  the  letter  A  in  the  legend.  The  shield  on  the  reverse  points 
from  the  centre  to  the  first  line  of  the  letter  U  in  the  legend. 

No.  12.  In  this  type  the  beam  has  as  decided  a  curve  as  a  sleigh-runner,  —  a  name 
by  which  it  is  known  among  collectors. 

No.  13.  The  plow  in  this  type  is  very  short  but  high  ;  the  curve  of  the  beam  regular 
but  short ;  the  coulter  extends  beyond  the  mould-board,  and  the  horse's  head  is  small. 
The  shield  is  small,  and  the  centre  elevation  points  to  the  after  portion  of  the  U  in 
the  legend. 

No.  14.  May  be  distinguished  by  the  plow  being  unusually  small,  and  the  letter  A 
in  NOVA  solid  in  the  centre,  the  letter  being  imperfect  in  the  die. 

No.  15.  Differs  from  all  the  other  types  in  the  diminutive  size  of  the  horse's  head, 
it  being  less  than  in  any  other  type.  The  ears  of  the  horse  point  to  the  A  in 
Caesarea. 

No.  16.  The  head  of  the  horse  is  small  in  this  type,  but  long  and  narrow;  the  ears 
point  between  C  and  A,  the  first  letters  in  C^SAREA.  The  coulter  does  not  pass 
through  the  beam  of  the  plow,  which  is  an  exception  to  all  the  other  types. 

No.  17.  In  this  type  there  is  a  very  marked  curve  in  the  horse's  neck  and  mane; 
the  plow  is  thick,  heavy  and  awkward,  and  the  beam  curves  downward,  which  occurs 
in  no  other  type.  The  figure  seven  in  the  date  is  placed  at  the  edge  of  the  curve  of 
the  handles  of  the  plow. 

No.  18.  Resembles  type  No.  15,  except  that  the  horse's  head  is  larger,  and  the  ears 
point  between  C  and  A  as  in  type  No.  16.  Just  above  the  beam  in  the  plow,  where 
it  connects  with  the  handles,  there  is  a  circular  piece  or  stay  which  occurs  in  no 
other  type. 

No.  19.  The  legend  on  the  obverse,  in  this  type,  at  its  termination,  is  punctuated 
with  an  oval  dot ;  the  shield  is  long,  and  at  its  centre-point,  sunk. 


120  COLONIAL   COINS. 

No.  20.  The  beam  in  this  type  is  like  a  "  sleigh-runner,"  but  it  differs  from  that  of 
type  No.  12,  being  much  longer,  and  extending  out  to  the  inner  circle  of  the  legend, 
while  No.  12  curves  inside  of  the  circle ;  the  single-tree  is,  also,  much  nearer  the  coulter. 

No.  21.  The  beam  of  the  plow  wdth  an  angular  curve,  the  handles  nearly  on  a  level 
with  it,  which  is  long.  The  single-tree  is  in  almost  a  continuous  line  with  the  coulter; 
this  occurs  in  no  other  type. 

No.  22.  The  beam  similar  to  type  20,  but  not  so  long ;  though  it  extends  beyond  the 
inner  circle  of  the  legend.     This  is  an  extremely  rare  type. 

No.  23.  A  large  planchet,  and  a  corresponding  plow ;  one  of  the  varieties  of  this 
type  is  broken  at  the  inner  corner  of  the  shield.  The  horse's  neck  is  long  and  slight, 
and  beneath  it  are  three  leaves ;  the  beam  of  the  plow  curves  very  much ;  the  shield 
is  long,  and  a  small  wTeath  crosses  the  lower  points  of  the  upper  portion  of  the  same. 

No.  24.  The  same  as  the  preceding  type,  except  that  the  legend,  in  the  obverse,  is 
punctuated  at  its  termination. 

No.  25.  The  plow  in  this  type  is  large,  though  the  planchet  is  small ;  the  coulter 
starts  from  the  head  beneath  the  horse's  head,  and  continues  down  to  the  mould-board; 
the  line  holding  the  single-tree  is  quite  faint,  which  gives  the  impression  of  another 
coulter,  and  which  has  given  it  the  name  of  "  double-coulter." 

No.  26.  May  be  designated  by  the  extreme  thickness  of  the  beam  of  the  plow,  at 
its  base,  and  the  gradual  narrowing  of  the  same,  to  the  end.  The  leaves  appear,  in 
this  type,  under  the  horse's  head. 

No.  27.  The  legend  on  the  reverse  of  this  type  is  "  E.  PLUEIBS." 

No.  28.  In  this  type  the  legend  on  the  obverse  is  punctuated  with  tiie  five-pointed 
star,  and  the  leaves  appear  under  the  horse's  head.  This  is  the  only  specimen  of  the 
kind  we  have  seen,  and  hence  we  think  it  particularly  rare. 

No.  29.  The  legend  on  the  obverse  is  punctuated  with  a  large  round  dot  at  its 
termination — occurring  in  no  other  type. 

No.  30.  The  beam  of  the  plow  curved  abruptly  at  the  end;  the  coulter  shorter  than 
in  any  other  type  in  this  year;  the  single-tree  starts  from  the  end  of  the  coulter,  at 
the  same  angle  with  it,  and  foUow^s  the  edge  of  the  mould-board  to  its  point.  We 
have  seen  no  other  specimen  of  this  kind. 

The  great  number  of  types,  in  this  year,  embrace  peculiarities  enough,  we  would 
suppose,  to  have  actively  employed  the  constructive  powers  of  a  number  of  the  human 
family.  Whatever  the  purpose  to  be  subserved  by  this  multiplicity  of  variations  of  the 
devices  upon  a  copper,  is  beyond  all  our  sources  of  information  or  even  conjecture.  They 
at  least  exhibit  a  devotion  to  the  subject-matter,  which  indicates  that  the  occupation 
was  in  complete  harmony  with  the  mind  that  directed,  and  the  hands  that  executed  it. 


PLATE  X . 


COLONIAL    COINS. 


121 


Immunis   Columbia. 


-a 


Device. — A  shield  in  the  shape  of  a  heart,  with  stripes  thereon,  running  lengthwise 

of  the  same.  1787. 

Legend.— E  .  PLURIBUS  •  UNUM  • 

Reverse. — The  figure  representing  Justice,  seated   upon  the  globe,  holding  in  the  right 
hand  a  flag-staff  surmounted  by  the  liberty-cap,  the  flag  drooping  over  the  arm, 
and  in  the  left  hand  the  scales. 
ie^ewi.— IMMUNIS   COLUMBIA. 
Exergue.— 11^1 . 

(Size  8.     See  Plate  X.,  Figure  21.) 

The  design  of  this  piece  is  very  beautiful  and  forcible ;  it  is  particularly  rare,  and  is 
found  but  in  few  cabinets. 

It  has  the  reputation  of  being  merely  a  pattern  piece ;  but  we  are  inclined  to  believe 
that  it  was  gotten  up,  and  designed,  like  other  coins  of  the  same  character,  for  a 
currency  in  New  Jersey.  The  late  day  of  its  appearance,  however,  following  by  a 
year  the  emission  of  the  "  Nova  Caesarea,"  gave  to  the  latter  the  pre-occupancy  of  the 
field. 

TYPES  AND  VARIETIES  OF  THE   NOVA  CiESAREA. 


1788. 

LEGENDS. 

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In  this  year  we  have  discovered  but  five  types  and  ten  varieties. 

Types. — No.  1.  The  legend  on  the  obverse  of  this  type  is  punctuated  with     1788. 
a  small  cross  at  the  beginning,  middle  and  end. 

No.  2.  The  legend  on  the  obverse  is  punctuated  with  three  six-pointed  stars,  in  thi^ 
type. 

16 


122  COLONIAL    COINS. 

No.  3.  The  plow  in  this  type  is  differently  constructed,  and  it  may  be  determined 
by  the  horse's  head  facing  to  the  left. 

No.  4.  The  same  as  the  preceding,  except  the  size  of  the  bead,  and  the  pointing  of 
the  horse's  ears. 

No.  5.  The  legend  has  no  punctuation  in  this  type. 

NEW  YORK. 
Neo  Eboracensis. 

1786.  Device. — A  bust,  facing  to  the  right,  intended  for  that  of  Washington,  in  the  costume 

of  the  Continental  army,  the  hair  in  a  cue. 
Legend,— ^0^  VIVIRTUTE  VICE. 

Reverse. — The  Goddess  of  Liberty,  seated  on  a  pedestal,  holding  in  her  right  hand 
a  staff  surmounted   by  the  Liberty  cap,  and  in  her  left  the  scales   of 
justice. 
Legend.— ^^0   EBORACENSIS. 
Exergue. — 1786. 

(Size  8.     See  Plate  XL,  Figure  1.) 

This  piece  has  been  denominated,  and  is  known  as  the  "  New  York  Washington 
penny."  The  bust,  so  far  as  we  have  been  able  to  discover,  constitutes  its  only  claim 
to  the  addition  of  the  name  of  Washington.  Of  this  emission,  there  were  two  types 
and  four  varieties;  and,  partaking  of  the  general  history  of  much  of  the  copper 
currency  then  in  use,  it  had  its  origin  in  England,  which  was,  and  ever  has  been  con- 
spicuous in  the  protecting  care  she  has  exercised  toward  our  interests  and  convenience  ; 
but  always  in  proportion  to  the  profit  which  was  to  inure  to  herself. 

New  York  Gold  Coin. 

1787.  Device. — A  range  of  hills,  in  front  of  which  the  sea  is  represented,  and  the  sun 

emerging  from  behind  them. 
Legend.— ^OY A.  EBORACA  .  COLUMBIA  .  EXCELSIOR  . 
Reverse. — A  spread  eagle,  surrounded  by  a  wreath. 
Legend.— V1^\JU  E  PLURIBUS.     Outside  of  the  wreath. 
Uxergue.—1781. 

(Size  8.     See  Plate  XL,  Figure  2.) 

This  coin  is  in  the  cabinet  of  the  U.  S.  Mint,  in  Philadelphia,  beside  which  we  have 
Been  three  others,  and  is  remarkably  well  executed.     It  was  coined  in  the  city  of  New 


COLONIAL    COINS.  123 

York,  in  the  year  of  its  issue,  by  a  Mr.  Blasher,  a  goldsmith,  vs'hose  name  it  bears. 
It  is  said  to  have  been  duplicated  in  silver.     We  have  met  with  but  one  type. 

As  the  Federal  Constitution  was  adopted  this  year,  and  it  involved  entire  authority 
over  the  coinage,  it  is  inferable  that  this  coin  was  gotten  up  as  a  pattern  piece — per- 
haps, also,  in  the  same  manner  in  silver;  as  the  artists  in  gold  and  silver  would 
naturally  have  been  attracted  to  the  subject  of  the  coinage,  and  as  the  General  Govern- 
ment might  be  expected  to  make  some  provision  for  a  national  currency.  The  device 
was  undoubtedly  derived  from  the  beautiful  bay  of  New  York,  the  surrounding  country 
furnishing  the  elevations  denominated  hills. 

NEW  YOEK  COPPERS. 

Immunis  Columbia. 

Device. — The  figure  of  Justice  seated  upon  the  Globe,  holding  in  her  right  hand 

a  flag-staff,  surmounted  by  the  Liberty-cap  —  the  flag  drooping  over  the         1787. 
arm  —  and  in  her  left  the  scales. 
Xg^ewc£.— IMMUNIS  COLUMBIA. 
Exergue. — 1787. 
Reverie.  — A  large  Eagle  with  wings  expanded,  and  covering  nearly  the  whole  of  the  field ; 

grasping  a  bundle  of  arrows  in  the  right  talon,  and  a  laurel  branch  in  the  left. 
Legend.— >k  E  ^  PLUEEBUS  *  UNUM  H: 

(Size  7.     See  Plate  XI.,  Figure  3.) 

All  we  know  of  the  "  Immunis  Columbia"  is,  that  it  had  an  existence,  and  perhaps 
as  important  a  one,  in  relation  to  the  events  of  its  day,  as  any  of  its  copper  competitors. 
Its  design  and  appearance  would  certainly  have  recommended  it  to  public  favor  — 
covered  all  over  as  it  was,  and  as  we  now  see  it,  with  national  emblems  —  and  at  a 
time,  too,  when  the  intensity  of  our  nationality  acquired  form  and  substance  by  the 
adoption  of  the  Federal  Constitution. 

Nova  Eborac. 

Device. — A  bust,  facing  to  the  right,  in  Roman  armor,  with  a  fillet  of  laurel.  1787. 

Legend.—^  NOVA  c§d  EBORAC  c%, 

Reverse. — The  Goddess  of  Liberty  seated,  and  facing  to  the  right ;  holding  a  sprig  of  laurel 
in  her  right,  and  a  pole  surmounted  by  the  Liberty-cap  in  her  left  hand ;  at  her 
side  a  shield  bearing  the  arms  of  the  State.  The  figure,  which  was  intended  for 
the  Goddess  of  Liberty,  resembles  very  much  that  used  as  the  emblem  of 
Brittania  on  the  old  English  coins. 

Legend.—  <%>  VIRT  ET-LLB  c^ 

Exergue. — 1787. 

(Size  8.     See  Plate  XL,  Figure  4.) 


124  COLONIAL   COINS. 

This  is  of  British  origin — the  emblem  of  Brittania,  on  the  reverse,  for  want  of  some- 
thing more  original  —  though  intended  for  republican  use  —  playing  the  part  of  the 
Goddess  of  Liberty  for  the  occasion.  There  were  of  this  copper,  two  types  and  six 
varieties.     The  types  can  be  determined  thus  : 

No.  1.  Nova  Eborac,  facing  right,  three  varieties. 
No.  2.       "  "  "       left,         "  " 

The  varieties  are  disclosed  by  the  Goddess  of  Liberty,  on  the  reverse,  facing  either  to 
the  right  or  the  left,  the  arrangement  of  the  legend  on  each  side  of  the  effigy,  and  the 
differences  of  punctuation  of  the  legend  VIR  ET  LIB  • 

Large  quantities  of  this  coin  were  sent  to  America,  and  it  is  stated  that  a  single 
shipment  of  eight  tons,  instead  of  safely  arriving  to  delight  the  New  Yorkers,  went  to 
the  bottom  of  the  ocean  within  a  few  days'  sail  of  its  destination ;  and  it  is  as  true 
that  they  were  the  subject  of  a  quarrel  among  the  mermaids  for  counters  and  head 
ornaments,  as  it  is  that  that  species  of  half  woman  and  half  fish  have  a  veritable 
existence.  The  coins  were  composed  of  good  copper,  but  poorly  struck  off;  proper  care 
not  having  been  taken  to  place  the  planchet  truly  upon  the  face  of  the  die.  We  have 
seen  specimens  of  this  coin  in  brass,  but  they  are  very  rare. 

Liber  Natus  Libertatem  Defendo. 

1787.         Device. — An  Indian  chief  standing,  with  a  raised  tomahawk  in  his  right  hand,  in 
the  left  a  bow,  and  from  his  back  depend  the  quiver  and  arrows. 
Legend.— LXBmi  NATUS  LIBERTATEM  DEFENDO  % 
Reverse. — Crest  of  the  State  Arms ;  an  Eagle,  proper — standing  upon  a  half  globe 

with  wings  expanded. 
Legend.— E^O  EBORACUS  EXCELSIOR. 
Exergue. — 1787. 

(Size  8.     See  Plate  XI.,  Figure  5.) 

This  was,  also,  of  English  manufacture,  and  it  possesses  no  history  apart  from  its 
competitors.  It  had  four  types,  was  composed  of  the  best  of  copper,  and  somewhat 
less  than  a  cent  in  weight. 


COLONIAL    COINS.  125 


Liber  Natus  Libertatem  Defendo. 


Device. — An  Indian  chief  standing,  a  raised  tomahawk  in  the  right  hand,  a  bow- 
in  the  left,  from  his  back  depend  the  quiver  and  arrows,  and  the  head        1787. 
is  surmounted  by  the  feathers. 
Legend.— USER  NATUS  LIBERTATEM  DEFENDO  >k 
Reverse. — The  arms  of  the  State  —  the  figures  representing  Justice  and  Liberty  on  each 

side  of  a  shield,  standing  —  surmounted  by  an  Eagle, 
ie^ent^. —EXCELSIOR. 
Exergue. — 1787. 

(Size  8.     See  Plate  XL,  Figure  6.) 

The  obverse  of  this  coin  is  the  same  as  that  immediately  preceding;  it  differs  on  the 
reverse,  and  is,  therefore,  a  distinct  variety.  This  bears  the  arms  of  the  State  com- 
plete ;  the  other  only  the  crest  of  the  arms.  There  are  three  other  types,  making  in 
all  five  varieties,  so  far  as  we  have  been  able  to  discover.  There  may  be  more  types 
and  varieties,  but  if  so  they  have  not  found  their  way  into  the  best  cabinet  collections. 

We  have  thoroughly  examined  the  Colonial  records,  the  laws  of  the  State  of  New 
York,  and  the  works  of  its  historians,  but  could  find  no  other  authority  for  these 
coppers  than  is  disclosed  by  themselves.  M.  Vatimar,  while  sojourning  in  this  country, 
endeavored  to  form  a  cabinet  of  our  Colonial  coins,  and  obtain  a  history  of  their 
mintage.  He  failed,  however,  to  obtain  anything  authentic  relative  to  the  coinage  of 
the  "  New  York  coppers."  They  possess  the  merit,  at  least,  of  being  quite  rare,  and, 
as  relics  of  the  past,  are  held  in  high  estimation  by  those  whose  cabinets  they  adorn. 
We  are  satisfied  that  no  gold,  silver,  or  copper  coins  were  minted  by  the  authority  of 
the  province  or  State  of  New  York.  Though  Massachusests  previously,  and  some  of 
the  other  States  subsequently  to  the  Revolution,  established  mint-houses  and  coined 
money,  no  demonstration  of  the  kind  was  made  by  New  York. 

We  may  attribute  this  to  her  superior  regard  to  law,  during  Colonial  servitude,  and, 
after  the  Revolution,  to  the  anticipation  of  the  establishment  of  some  general  authority 
over  the  whole  subject.  It  is  clear  to  us  that  these  coppers  were  a  currency,  and, 
subserving  as  they  did  a  useful  purpose,  they  encountered  no  opposition  from  the  local 
authorities. 


126  COLONIAL    COINS. 

First  United  States  Cent. 

1787.         Device. — A  dial  with  the  hours  expressed  upon  the  face,  with  "Fugio"  on  the  left, 
and  1787  on  the  right ;  a  meridian  sun  above  the  dial,  and  below  it  the  — 
Legend.— UWD  YOUR  BUSINESS. 

Reverse. — Thirteen  circles  linked  together,  forming  a  large  circle ;  in  the  centre  of 
the  same,  a  small  circle  with  "UNITED  STATES"  around  it,  and  in  the 
centre,"  "WE  ARE  ONE." 

(Size  8.     See  Plate  XL,  Figure  7.) 

An  ordinance  for  establishing  a  Mint  of  the  United  States,  and  for  regulating  the 
value  and  alloy  of  the  coin  thereof,  was  passed  by  Congress,  October  16th,  1786.  On 
July  6th,  1787,  the  government  ordered  that  its  copper  coin — for  the  minting  of  which 
it  had  already  entered  into  a  contract — should  bear  the  device,  &c.,  as  above  described. 

This  cent  being  the  first  legally  authorized  coin  of  the  government  of  '"THE 
UNITED  STATES  OF  AMERICA,"  possesses,  we  think,  more  than  ordinary 
interest ;  it  is  a  very  creditable  relic  of  the  Confederated  government,  and  the  devices, 
to  our  view,  were  very  appropriate.  As  a  work  of  taste  and  interest  it  throws  into 
the  shade  the  very  uninteresting  emissions  of  the  same  denomination  which  succeeded 
it,  and  which  constitute,  in  part,  our  present  currency. 

This  cent  has  borne  the  name,  with  some,  of  the  "  FRANKLIN  PENNY,"  an 
appellation  to  which  it  has  no  claim,  it  being  but  a  fanciful  application,  because  the 
legend  was  one  of  those  sententious  utterances  imputed  to  Franklin,  and  for  which  he 
was  so  justly  distinguished. 

There  are  two  types  and  four  varieties  of  this  cent,  viz. : 

No.  1.  Thirteen  circles  with  a  plain  field,  4  varieties. 

No.  2.         "  "       each  containing  the  name  of  one  of  the  States,  1 

The  latter  type  has,  also,  a  blaze  radiating  from  the  circles. 

"Kentucky  Copper." 

1791.         Device.— A  hand  holding  a  scroll,  on  which  is  inscribed  OUR  CAUSE  IS  JUST. 
ie^ewJ.— UNANIMITY  IS  STRENGTH  OF  SOCIETY. 

Reverse — ^Fifteen  stars  in  the  form  of  a  triangle ;  each  star  bearing  the  initial  of  one 
of  the  States   of  the  Union — Kentucky  leading.      Around   the   edge, 
"Payable  in  Lancaster,  London,  or  Bristol." 
(Size  8.     See  Plate  XL,  Figure  8.) 

This  coin,  it  is  said,  was  struck  off  in  Lancaster,  England,  in  1791,  evidently  as  a 
speculation  for  circulation  in  America.  Because  Kentucky  leads  in  the  triangle  on  the 
reverse,  it  has  been  denominated  the  "Kentucky  Cent." 


PLATE  XI. 


LNRostjrtha;  Lith  Philaa. 


COLONIAL    COINS.  127 

As  a  speculation,  however,  whether  for  English  or  American  account,  it  could  nut 
have  been  very  successful,  as  it  made  its  appearance  at  a  time  when  the  General  and 
State  governments  had  commenced  a  war  of  repudiation  upon  all  foreign  or  Colonial 
wares  of  this  kind. 

They  are  yet  quite  plenty  among  coin  dealers  in  England,  and  are  known  among 
her  collectors  as  the  "Kentucky  Token."     We  have  seen  but  two  types. 

Massachusetts  Cent. 

Device. — An  Indian  chief  with  his  bow  and  arrow,  and  a  star  on  the  left  side  near 

his  forehead.  1787 

ie^ewi.— COMMONWEALTH. 

Reverse. — The  American  eagle  holding  in  its  right  talon  a  bundle  of  arrows,  and  in  the 

left  an  olive  branch ;  on  its  breast  a  shield,  in  which  is  the  word  CENT. 

i^^enci.— MASSACHUSETTS. 

Exergue. — 1787. 

(Size  8.     See  Plate  XI.,  Figure  9,) 

Massachusetts  Half-Cent. 

Device. — An  Indian  chief  with  his  bow  and  arrow,  and  a  star  on  the  left  side  near 

the  forehead.  1787. 

ie^ewci.— COMMONWEALTH 

Reverse. — The  American  Eagle  holding  in  its  right  talon  a  bundle  of  arrows,  and  in  the 

left  an  olive  branch ;  on  its  breast  a  shield,  in  which  is  the  words  HALF-CENT. 

£g^en<l.— MASSACHUSETTS. 

JExergue. — 1787. 

Size  6.     See  Plate  XL,  Figure  10.) 

A  precisely  similar  cent  and  half-cent  were  issued  in  1788. 

The  act  authorizing  this  currency,  and  the  proceedings  under  it,  are  noticed  in  the 
"Massachusetts  Currency."  It  was  passed  October  17th,  1786,  immediately  subse- 
quent to  the  act  for  establishing  the  second  Massachusetts  Mint.  The  coinage  under 
it  did  not  take  place  until  1787,  and,  from  the  date  of  the  second  issue  of  these  cents, 
1788,  it  must  have  ceased  in  view  of  the  Federal  authority  over  this  subject,  early  in 
the  latter  year. 

The  device  upon  these  coins  was  that  which  was  upon  the  first  seal  of  the  colony, 
though  at  the  period  of  its  adoption  it  had  a  new  seal;  for  we  find  in  February,  1781, 
the  authorities  of  Massachusetts  paid  Col.  Paul  Revere,  of  Boston,  £8  in  silver,  £15 
of  the  new  emission  of  State  paper  money,  and  £600  of  the  old  emission,  for  engraving 
the  same. 


128  COLONIAL   COINS. 

Of  the  first  emission  of  these  cents  in  1787,  there  was  but  one  type,  consisting  of 
thirteen  varieties,  and  of  the  second,  in  1788,  there  was  also  but  one  type  and 
nineteen  varieties;  that  is,  so  far  as  we  have  been  able  to  learn  from  the  examination 
of  numerous  specimens.  The  obverse  of  these  coins  differs  in  the  length  and  curve 
of  the  bow,  and  in  the  length  of  the  arrow;  but  the  slight  difference  in  the  die,  we 
do  not  deem  sufficient  to  form  or  constitute  a  different  type.  Any  change,  however,  in 
the  varieties  would  be  important,  as  the  slightest  difference  of  arrangement  on  the 
reverse  becomes  noticeable.  We  are  unable  to  determine  anything  in  relation  to 
either  the  number  of  types  or  varieties  of  the  half-cents,  in  consequence  of  their  great 
scarcity. 

No.  1. 

Washington  Cent. 

1791.        Device. — The  bust  of  Washington,  facing  to  the  left,  with  the  hair  in  a  cue,  and  in 
continental  uniform. 

Legend.— WASlimGTO:^  PRESIDENT. 

Exergue. — 1791. 

^dl^e.— UNITED  STATES  OF  AMERICA. 

Reverse. — The  American  Eagle  with  wings  expanded,  bearing  on  the  breast  a  heart- 
shaped  shield  with  six  parallel  stripes.  In  the  right  talon  a  laurel  branch, 
in  the  left  a  number  of  arrows,  and  a  scroll  held  in  the  centre  of  the  beak, 
upon  which  is  inscribed,  "UNUM  E  PLURIBUS." 

Legend.— O:^^  CENT. 

(Size  8.     See  Plate  XII.,  Figure  4.^ 

No.  2. 

Device. — The  bust  of  Washington,  facing  to  the  left,  with  the  hair  in  a  cue,  and  in 

continental  uniform. 
Xe^gnci.— WASHINGTON  PRESIDENT. 
Reverse. — The  Eagle  with  upraised  wings ;  eight  stars  below  a  circle  of  clouds ;  in 

the  right  talon  of  the  Eagle  a  branch  of  olive,  in  the  left  a  number  of 

arrows. 
Legend.— OWE,  CENT. 
Uxergue.— 1791. 
i^cf^g.— UNITED  STATES  OF  AMERICA. 

(Size  8.     See  Plate  Xn.,  Figure  3.) 


♦  • 


COLONIAL   COINS.  129 


No.  3. 


Device. — The  bust  of  Washington,  facing  to  the  left,  with  a  cue,  and  in  continental 

uniform.  1791. 

Legend.— WA^UmQTOlS  PRESIDENT. 
Reverse. — The  Eagle  with  upraised  wings,  six  stars  below  a  circle  of  clouds ;  in  the  right 

talon  of  the  Eagle  a  branch  of  olive,  in  the  left  a  number  of  arrows. 
Legend.— O^M.  CENT. 
Exergue. — 1791. 
Edge.—Jmn^'D  STATES  OF  AMERICA. 

(Sizes.     See  Plate  Xn.,  Figure  5.)   - 

These  Washington  cents  of  1791,  as  described,  are  the  real  "Simon  Pures,"  which 
were  gotten  up  as  pattern  pieces  by  authority  of  the  General  Government,  and  which, 
we  think,  we  can  establish  to  be  such,  beyond  controversy.  The  two  last  differ  only 
in  the  number  of  stars  on  the  reverse. 

October  16th,  1786,  the  Congress  of  the  confederated  United  States  passed  a  resolu- 
tion establishing  a  Mint,  and  the  "first  United  States  cent" — noticed  fully  under  that 
head — was  authorized  to  be  coined  by  contract,  and  made  its  appearance  in  1787. 
This,  then,  appears  to  have  been  the  only  legal  coinage  of  copper  coins  until  1793, 
except  of  the  pattern  pieces  at  the  head  of  this  article — the  present  Mint  having  been 
established  by  a  law  of  Congress,  in  1791. 

Thus  the  act  of  coinage  by  our  general  government,  except  as  experimental, 
remained  in  abeyance  from  1786  to  1792,  when  Washington  in  his  message,  refers  to 
the  coining  of  h&\^-dismes. 

To  sustain  this  reasoning  Washington  says,  in  his  third  annual  message  to  the  House 
of  Representatives,  October  25th,  1791.  "The  disorders  in  the  existing  currency,  and 
especially  small  change,  a  scarcity  so  peculiarly  distressing  to  the  poorer  classes, 
strongly  recommend  the  carrying  into  immediate  effect  the  resolution  already  entered 
into  concerning  the  establishment  of  a  Mint.  Measures  have  been  taken  pursuant  to 
the  resolution  for  procuring  some  of  the  necessary  artists,  together  with  the  requisite 
apparatus." 

From  this  statement  of  the  President  it  is  clear  that  the  subject  of  the  coinage  had 
been  considered^  and  that  the  incipient  measures  had  been  taken  by  the  Committee  of 
Congress  and  the  Secretary  of  the  Treasury,  for  carrying  into  execution  the  resolution 
in  relation  thereto,  by  inviting  designs,  procuring  dies,  and  getting  up  pattern  pieces 
to  be  submitted  to  Congress. 

This  preparation  embraced  the  services  of  both  foreign  and  American  artists. 
17 


130  COLONIAL    COINS. 

In  confirmation  of  this  we  find  in  Washington's  fourth  annual  message  to  the  House 
of  Representatives,  November  6th,  1792,  the  following — "  In  execution  of  the  authority 
given  by  the  legislature,  measures  have  been  taken  for  engaging  some  artists  from 
abroad,  to  aid  in  the  establishment  of  our  Mint.  Others  have  been  employed  at  home, 
provisions  have  been  made  for  the  requisite  buildings,  and  they  are  now  being  put  in 
proper  condition  for  the  purposes  of  the  establishment.  There  has  been  a  small 
beginning  in  the  coinage  of  half-dismes,  the  want  of  small  coins  in  circulation  calling 
the  first  attention  to  them." 

Among  the  American  artists  referred  to  by  Washington,  in  1791,  a  Mr.  John  Harper, 
a  manufacturer  of  saws,  corner  of  Sixth  and  Cherry  streets,  Philadelphia,  bore  a  con- 
spicuous part :  the  cents  at  the  head  of  this  article  having  been  designed  and  struck  off 
by  him,  and  upon  his  premises. 

The  device  upon  these  coins — the  effigy  of  Washington,  then  President,  in  imitation 
of  royal  emissions,  which  bear  the  bust  of  the  sovereign,  under  whom  they  are  minted, 
and  which  are  emblematic  of  royal  authority  —  met  with  Washington's  decided  disap- 
probation ;  and  though  it  could  not,  in  bis  case,  if  it  had  been  adopted,  have  conflicted 
with  the  popular  confidence  in,  and  regard  for,  that  confirmed  patriot,  yet,  at  Washing- 
ton's suggestion,  the  device  was  rejected,  and  the  dies  were  subsequently  broken. 

We  must  think  that  though  the  effigy  of  a  living  President  of  the  United  States 
upon  our  coins  would  partake  too  much  of  the  character  of  royalty,  or  man-worship  — 
of  the  daily  evidences  of  which,  in  the  social  and  political  relations  of  our  country, 
there  is  abundant  cause  for  mortification  and  humility  with  that  portion  of  our 
countrymen,  imbued  with  a  due  sense  of  the  natural  dignity  of  freemen,  and  a  con- 
scientious and  intelligent  regard  for  our  social  and  national  welfare  and  safety  —  still 
we  can  see  no  objection  to  transferring  the  portraits  of  Washington  or  his  successors 
to  our  coins,  seeing  that  all  doubts  of  his  or  their  patriotism  have  been  removed  by  a 
thoroughly  tried  and  accepted  devotion,  while  living,  to  not  only  the  political  equality 
and  liberty  of  their  own  countrymen,  but  to  mankind  everywhere. 

The  Rev.  Dr.  Boardman  contended  before  the  Historical  Society  of  Pennsylvania — 
the  subject  inducing  it  being  the  device  for  the  "new  cent" — very  eloquently  for  the 
effigy  of  Christopher  Columbus  on  one  of  our  national  coins. 

In  pursuance  of  the  Doctor's  retrospective  and  prospective  ideas  on  this  subject,  we 
regret  much  that  we  are  unable  to  describe  some  piece  of  either  our  Colonial  or 
National  coin  bearing  the  portrait  of  Christopher  Columbus,  who,  in  proportion  to  the 
services  which  he  rendered  to  discovery  and  hence  the  world,  met  with  more  ingratitude 
while  living,  and  less  honor  dead,  than  any  man  that  ever  lived. 


COLONIAL  COINS.  131 


"Washington  Cent." 


Device. — A  bust  of  Washington  in  continental  uniform,  facing  to  tlie  left,  and  the 

hair  in  a  cue.  1792. 

Legend.— Gr .  WASHINGTON  PEESIDENT  L 

Exergue.— V122. 

Reverse. — An  Eagle  with  the  wings  partially  expanded  and  turned  upward ;  between  the 
tips  of  the  same  are  fifteen  six-pointed  stars ;  on  the  breast  is  a  heart-shaped 
shield,  containing  seven  bars  of  three  stripes  each ;  in  the  right  talon  an  olive- 
branch,  and  in  the  left  a  number  of  barbed  arrows. 

Legend.— Jmil:^J)  STATES  OF  AMERICA. 

(Size  10.     See  Plate  Xn.,  Figure  6.)  .  :  ; 

This  is  a  pattern-piece,  known  to  collectors  of  coins,  and  designated  by  every 
authority  we  have  seen,  as  the  "Washington  Cent  of  1792." 

The  die  for  this  piece  was  designed  and  cut  by  Peter  Getz,  of  Lancaster,  Pa.,  for  a 
pattern-piece,  at  the  invitation  of  the  General  Government,  for  designs  for  coins; 
brought  by  him  to  Philadelphia,  and,  in  the  presence  of  several  gentlemen,  among 
whom  was  Adam  Eckfeldt,  Esq.,-  subsequently  chief  coiner  of  the  Mint,  struck  oflf 
upon  copper  planchets ;  the  number  of  which  could  not  have  been  large,  as  they  are 
now  very  rare,  and  even  then,  must  have  been  novel  and  valuable  enough  to  have 
commanded  careful  preservation. 

The  scene  of  this  coining  operation  was  in  an  old  coach  shop  in  Sixth  street,  above 
Chestnut,  upon  a  press  erected  by  John  Harper,  under  the  superintendence  of  Adam 
Eckfeldt.  Subsequently  a  number  of  half-crown  pieces  were  prepared,  and  struck  off 
on  this  die,  some  of  which  are  still  treasured  up  by  collectors  of  coins,  and  are  known 
as  the  "  Washington  Half-Dollar." 

From  this  circumstance  we  think  we  are  excusable  in  conjecturing  that  in  getting  up 
this  die,  Mr.  Getz  may  have  had  a  more  exalted  idea  for  it  than  that  of  a  cent,  as  its 
merit  was  subsequently  acknowledged  by  the  close  resemblance  of  the  reverse  on  the 
half-dollar  of  1806,  and  others ;  the  bust  of  the  Goddess  of  Liberty  being  substituted 
on  the  obverse  for  the  eflBgy  of  Washington. 

Burdened  as  this  piece  was  with  the  bust  of  Washington,  and  the  legend,  "  WASH- 
INGTON PRESIDENT  I."— though  the  numeral  upon  it  could  not  have  been 
tortured  into  a  reference  to  anything  but  a  popular  succession  in  the  office  of  President 
of  the  United  States — it  was  calculated  to  arouse  prejudices  against  it,  which  were 
summarily  deprived  of  their  basis  by  Washington's  own  action,  which  repudiated  its 
adoption — an  evidence  among  the  many  that  preceded  and  succeeded  it,  of  his  personal 


132  COLONIAL    COINS. 

disinterestedness  relative  to  everything  connected  with  the  administration  or  welfare 
of  the  infant  republic. 

We  have  been  favored  with  the  following  leading  facts  in  the  life  of  Mr,  Peter  Getz, 
by  J.  Franklin  Reigart,  of  Lancaster,  Pa.  They  illustrate  the  force  of  native  talent 
and  energy  which  unassisted  are  often  assisted  most. 

"  Mr.  Adam  Getz  was  born  in  Lancaster,  Pa. ;  his  occupation  was  that  of  a  silver- 
smith; but  he  was,  otherwise,  a  very  skilful  mechanic  and  remarkable  for  his  ingenuity. 
He  excelled  as  a  seal-engraver,  and  an  engraver  on  steel,  and  was  the  inventor  of  a 
very  ingenious  hand-vice.  He  built  the  three  first  fire-engines  for  his  native  town, 
the  *  Active,'  '  Sun,'  and  another,  which  is  still  in  existence  in  the  county,  and  invented 
an  improved  printing  press — noticed  in  the  'Lancaster  Journal,'  January  8th,  1810 — 
worked  by  rollers  instead  of  the  screw,  which,  bv  nrinters,  was  cor.-; Jered  a  great 
improvement. 

"  In  1792  he  was  a  candidate  for  the  position  of  chief  coiner  or  engraver  of  the 
Mint,  and  at  that  time  sustained  his  peculiar  superiority  as  a  self-taught  mechanic,  by 
exhibiting  to  Dr.  Rittenhouse,  the  director,  a  small  pair  of  scales  —  such  as  are  called 
gold  scales — which  were  of  exquisite  workmanship  and  great  exactness.  The  Doctor, 
in  those  days  of  conscientious  economy,  could  not  think  of  taxing  the  government  with 
anything  so  elaborate  and  costly.  This  decision  induced  Mr,  Getz  to  solicit  the  Doctor's 
acceptance  of  them,  which  he  courteously  declined  ;  subsequently  receiving  them,  how- 
ever, upon  the  condition  of  being  permitted  to  pay  twenty  dollars  for  them,  which  was 
accepted — thus  harmonizing  the  admiration  of  the  Doctor  with  the  skill  of  the  artist. 
Soon  after,  Mr.  Getz  made  very  complete  scales  for  the  Bank  of  the  United  States. 

"  Compelled  as  he  was  to  manufacture  his  own  tools  —  no  other  facilities  than  his 
own  brain  and  hands  existing  at  that  time  —  his  triumphs  rank  him  among  the  most 
ingenious  of  his  countrymen. 

"  Mr.  Getz  died,  December  29th,  1809,  at  47  years  of  age,  leaving  a  large  family,  a 
number  of  the  descendants  of  which  are  living  to  cherish  his  memory. 

"  Mr.  Getz  was  personally  complimented  by  Washington  for  his  artistic  skill  in  pro- 
ducing the  die  for  what  is  called  the  *  Washington  Cent,'  and  it  was  also  officially 
recognized  by  the  Government.  This  letter  was  often  exhibited  by  Major  John  Getz, 
a  son  of  the  artist,  during  his  lifetime.  Memory  must,  however,  supply  the  place  of 
this  documentary  proof,  as  it  cannot  now  be  found.'* 


COLONIAL    COINS.  133 


-  --a 
Washington   Cent. 


Device. — A  bust  of  Washington,  facing  to  the  right —  across  the  head  a  band,  and 

in  front  of  the  same,  a  continuation  of  small  curls.  *      1792. 

ie^mi.— WASHINGTON  PRESIDENT. 

Exergue.— il'd^. 

Reverse. — The  American  eagle  with  its  wings  partially  expanded,  and  turning  upward, 
and  on  each  side  of  the  neck  three  stars  —  six  in  all.  The  breast  bears  a 
heart-shaped  shield  with  six  parallel  stripes ;  in  the  right  talon  is  grasped  a 
bundle  of  arrows,  and  in  the  left,  a  branch  of  laurel. 

Legend.— GE^ll. 

^i^e.— UNITED  STATES  OF  AMERICA  •  x  •  x  •  x  •  x  • 

(Size  8.     See  Plate  Xn.,  Figure  7.) 

We  do  not  think  this  coin  has  been  previously  described,  as  we  have  never  met  with 
but  two  specimens.  The  artist,  in  the  features,  had  evidently  made  the  harsh 
expression  of  the  emperors  upon  Roman  coins  a  study;  for  it  really  bears  more 
resemblance  to  a  North  American  Indian  than  to  the  father  of  his  country.  It  has 
been  supposed  that  this  coin  was  gotten  up  in  our  own  country ;  but  it  is  now  conceded 
that  it  was  struck  off  in  England,  among  the  artizans  of  which,  as  illustrated  by  their 
designs,  theoretic  patriotism  admits  of  no  superiors. 

The  date,  the  circumstances  then  existing,  and  the  piece  itself,  are  all  in  favor  of  its 
having  been  gotten  up  for  a  currency.  In  regard  to  that,  however,  conjecture  can 
supply  only  what  history  has  failed  to  preserve  or  perpetuate.  It  may,  therefore,  have 
been  gotten  up  as  a  pattern  piece,  to  be  submitted  to  a  committee  of  Congress  having 
the  subject  in  charge.     It  is  now  quite  valuable  and  rare. 

Washington  Half-Dollar. 

Device. — The  bust  of  Washington  in  continental  uniform,  facing  to  the  left,  with 

the  hair  in  a  cue.  1792. 

Legend.— Q.  WASHINGTON  PRESIDENT  L 
Exergue.— 11^2. 
Reverse. — An  eagle   with  the  wings  partially  expanded;    on  the  breast,  a  harp-shaped 

shield ;  in  the  right  talon  an  olive  branch,  and  in  the  left,  a  number  of  arrows. 
Xe^gnc?.— UNITED  STATES  OF  AMERICA. 

(Size  10.     See  Plate  XIL,  Figure  8.) 

This  piece  bears  a  very  close  resemblance  to  the  Washington  cent  of  1792,"  and  our 
theory  relative  to  it  is,  that  Mr.  Getz,  in  getting  up  the  latter,  did  not  arrive  at  a 
satisfactory  experiment  by  a  single  effort ;  and  that  hence  the  former  was  struck  off 


134  COLONIAL    COINS. 

upon  one  of  his  rejected  dies,  upon  which  he  had  expressed  the  seal  of  his  condemnation, 
by  putting  a  mark  upon  it,  as  if  cut  across  by  a  mallet  and  chisel. 

It  is  a  very  rare  and  valuable  piece  notwithstanding  its  mutilation,  and  descended, 
in  good  company,  from  a  period  of  time  of  which  it  is  a  memorial ;  and,  though  of 
doubtful  paternity,  it  is  held  in  much  esteem  by  those  who  look  to  it  for  instruction, 
without  reference  to  its  origin  or  popularity. 

Washington  Cent. 

1792.         Device. — A  bust  of  Washington  in  military  costume,  facing  to  the  left,  and  the  hair 
in  a  cue. 
i^^gnc?.— WASHINGTON  PRESIDENT. 
Exergue.— Vl^2. 

Reverse. — An  eagle  with  the  wings  partially  expanded,  holding  in  its  beak  a  scroll, 
upon  which  is  E.  PLURIBUS  UNUM;  over  the  head  of  the  same,  a 
star,  and  above  that,  twelve  others  in  circular  form ;  in  the  right  talon 
the  olive  branch,  and  in  the  left,  a  bundle  of  arrows. 
(Size  8.     See  Plate  Xn.,  Figure  9.) 

This  is  a  well  executed  piece,  of  which  we  have  seen  one  type  and  three  varieties. 

Like  the  cents  of  1791,  previously  described,  it  was  undoubtedly  gotten  up  for  the 
same  purpose ;  that  is,  under  the  invitation  to  foreign  and  native  artists,  as  a  pattern 
piece  or  specimen  for  a  currency  to  be  submitted  to  Congress.  It  may,  therefore,  be 
esteemed  equally  as  valuable  and  rare,  and  entitled  to  the  same  history  and  importance. 

New  York  Cent. 

1794.        Device. — A  ship  under  full  sail. 

ig^ewci.— TALBOT,  ALLUM  &  LEE,  NEW  YORK. 

JExergue.—0^^   CENT. 

Reverse. — A  full  length  figure  of  Liberty,  a  bale  of  merchandise  at  her  feet,  holding 

in  her   right   hand   a  pole,  surmounted  by  the  liberty  cap,  while  she 

supports  a  rudder  in  her  left. 
ie^ewc?.— LIBERTY  &  COMMERCE. 
Exergue. — 1794. 
Edge.— V AY ASLE.  AT  THE  STORE  OF  -!- 

(Sizes.     See  Plate  XI.,  Figure  11.) 

The  die  for  this  piece  was  gotten  up  in  England  in  1794.  It  is  simply  a  card  or  token 
of  the  firm  whose  name  it  bears,  and  which,  it  is  said,  was  largely  engaged  in  the 
shipping  business  in  the  city  of  New  York.  Similar  emissions  have  been  made  of  late 
years,  but  much  less  elaborate  in  design. 


COLONIAL    COINS.  135 

This,  at  the  time,  seemed  to  take  the  public  fancy,  and  hence  it  obtained  an  active 
circulation,  which  was  succeeded  by  another  issue  in  1795.  We  have  met  with  two 
distinct  types  and  seven  varieties  of  the  emission  of  1794,  and  one  type  of  that  of 
1795,  all  well  executed  as  to  workmanship,  but  composed  of  very  brittle,  and 
consequently,  inferior  metal. 

Kentucky  Copper. 

Device. — The  Goddess  of  Liberty  standing,  and  facing  to  the  left ;  the  right  hand 

is  extended  toward  two  naked  children,  who  are  urged  toward  the  Goddess    1796. 
by  a  female  figure  at  their  backs ;  with  the  left  arm  the  Goddess  supports 
the  liberty  pole,  surmounted  by  the  cap.     On  one  side  of  her  is  a  cornucopia, 
on  the  other  a  fruit  ti'ee,  and  in  the  back-ground  of  the  figure,  on  the  left,  is  an 
anchor. 
Legend.— Bmil^ll  SETTLEMENT,  KENTUCKY. 
Exergue. — 1796. 

Reverse. — Britannia  seated,  the  left  arm  resting  upon  a  broken  shield,  bearing  the  British 
cross ;  in  her  right  rests  a  spear,  point  downward ;  her  head  drooping,  as  if 
surveying  the  broken  sword,  scales,  &c.,  which  lie  at  her  feet. 
ie^end.— PAYABLE  BY  P.  P.  P.  MYDDELTON. 

(Size  8.     See  Plate  XI.,  Figure  12.) 

The  above  devices  are  rich  in  the  budding  sentiments  that  began  to  find  a  place 
wherever  the  mind  had  become  enlightened  in  regard  to  the  principles  that  had  been 
planted,  and  taken  root  on  this  western  continent. 

A  figure  on  the  obverse,  which  we  may  denominate  the  hand-maid  of  the  Goddess 
of  Liberty,  is  urging  forward,  to  the  goddess'  protection,  the  poor  and  down-trodden 
children  of  despotism;  exhibiting  to  view,  as  does  the  goddess  by  her  extended  hand, 
the  protecting  aegis  in  the  liberty  pole  and  cap,  with  the  emblems  of  plenty  in  the 
cornucopia  and  fruit  tree  on  either  side;  and  also  in  the  back-ground,  the  anchor — the 
emblem  of  security  and  hope. 

On  the  reverse,  Britannia  rests  upon  a  broken  shield,  bearing  the  British  cross, 
illustrative  of  defeat,  with  the  reversed  spear,  indicative  of  fallen  power,  and  gazing 
at  the  broken  sword,  scales,  &c.,  at  her  feet  —  the  paraphernalia  of  departed  authority. 

This  piece  was,  as  the  legend — "  Payable  by  P.  P.  P.  Myddelton" — proves,  a  private 
enterprise,  undoubtedly  gotten  up  by  a  leader  in  a  "  British  settlement,"  designed  for, 
if  it  did  not  actually  take  place  in,  Kentucky.  It  is  valuable  as  an  exponent  of  the 
feelings  of  many  of  our  early  settlers,  full  as  they  were  of  the  spirit  of  liberty,  and 
which  their  descendants  still  enthusiastically  cherish. 


136  COLONIAL   COINS. 

Castorland  Half-dollar. 

1796.        Device. — A  bust  with  a  laurel  wreath,  surmounted  by  a  mural  crown,  and  facing  to 
the  left. 
Xe^mci.— FRANCO-AMERICANA  COLONIA. 
Exergue.— CA^HO^J^AWD.     1796. 

Reverse. — A  figure  of  Ceres  standing,  facing  to  the  right,  holding  in  her  right 
hand  a  cornucopia,  and  in  her  left,  a  carpenter's  brace;   at  her  feet  a 
sheaf  of  wheat ;  near  her  is  a  maple  tree,  from  which  the  sap  is  running 
into  a  tub. 
Legend.— ^KILYF.  MAGNA  PARENS  FRUGUM. 
Exergue. — A  beaver  lying  down. 

(Size  9.     See  Plate  XI.,  Figure  13.) 

The  design  of  this  piece  embraces  such  emblems  as  would  naturally  cluster  around 
the  thoughts  of  an  agricultural  community,  seeking  a  home  in  the  New  World ;  and 
they  are  peculiarly  appropriate.  It  was  said  to  have  been  struck  off  in  Paris  by 
Duvivier,  as  a  pattern  piece  for  a  currency  for  the  French  settlement,  whose  history 
follows. 

Composed,  as  that  settlement  appears  to  have  been,  of  persons  of  wealth  and 
intelligence,  and  probably  but  little  acquainted  with  our  mint  laws  and  consequent 
facilities,  we  are  not  surprised  that  it  made  some  provision  for  a  currency. 

We  gather  from  Hough's  history  of  Jefferson  county,  New  York,  that,  "  on  the  3Ist 
of  August,  1792,  William  Constable,  one  of  the  three  owners  of  Macomb's  great 
purchase,  sold  to  Peter  Chassanis,  of  Paris,  a  large  tract  of  land  in  the  present  counties 
of  Lewis  and  Jefferson,  east  and  north  of  Black  river,  and  intended  to  contain  640,000 
acres,  but  which,  upon  subsequent  survey,  was  found  to  fall  short  several  hundred 
thousand  acres.  Chassanis  organized  a  compan}',  which  he  sent  over  under  the 
direction  of  Rudolp  Tillier  as  agent,  about  the  year  1794.  These  settlers  made  the 
first  road  north  from  Steuben  to  the  Black  river,  and  began  a  settlement  in  the  present 
town  of  Greig,  adjacent  to  the  High  Falls. 

"A  small  beginning  was  made  at  the  head  of  navigation  on  Beaver  river,  named 
Castorville,  and  at  the  present  village  of  Carthage  in  Jefferson  county. 

"  The  French  Revolution  drove  into  exile  many  families  of  rank  and  wealth,  some 
of  whom  settled  on  this  tract,  but  most  of  them  after  a  few  years  returned  to  France, 
and  the  settlements  were  ultimately  abandoned." 


1^  ^ 


^}3  'i 


LKRosentliiiLl.TthPI«"ii< 


COLONIAL    COINS.  137 


Washington  Tokens,  Coppers,  and  Medalets. 

Under  this  head  the  following  are  described.  They  are  part  and  parcel  of  collections 
held  in  much  regard  by  those  who  possess  them,  and  in  a  work  designed,  as  far  as 
practicable,  to  embrace  everything  of  the  kind,  whether  possessing  any  particular 
history  or  not,  we  have  judged  they  might,  as  indexes  of  the  past,  prove  to  be 
interesting. 

No.  1. 
"Washington  Coppers." 

Device. — ^A  bust  of  Washington,  facing  to  the  left,  in  military  costume ;  the  hair  in  a  cue. 
Legend.— QiEO^(m  WASHINGTON. 
Reverse. — A  harp  surmounted  by  a  crown. 
Legend.— SiORTB.  WALES. 

(Size  6.    See  Plate Xin.,Figure  3.) 


No.  2. 

Device. — A  finely  executed  bust  of  Washington,  facing  to  the  left,  in  continental  uniform ; 

the  hair  in  a  cue. 
Legend.— (mOR(m  WASHINGTON. 

Reverse. — The  American  Eagle,  with  wings  expanded,  holding  in  the  right  talon  the  olive 
branch,  and  in  the  left  barbed  arrows  —  over  a  heart-shaped  shield,  fifteen  stars 
and  stripes. 
Legend.— LJSERl:Y  Am)  SECUEITY. 

JEdge.—AN  ASYLUM  FOR  THE  OPPRESSED  OF  ALL  NATIONS. 

(Size  10.    See  Plate  XH.,  Figure  10.) 


Washington  Medalet. 

Device. — The  bust  of  Washington  in  military  uniform,  and  the  hair  in  a  cue, 

feeing  to  the  left.  1790. 

Legend.— GEO.  WASHINGTON  BORN  VIRGINIA. 
Uxergue.—Feb.  11,  1732. 
-Reverse.  — GENERAL    OF   THE  AMERICAN   ARMIES   1775.     RESIGNED  1783. 

PRESIDENT  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES,  1789. 
Exergue — J  .  MANLY  &o.  1790. 

(Size  14.) 
18 


%9»  '      COLONIAL    COINS. 

Washington  Half-Penny. 

1791.        Device. — The  bust  of  Washington,  facing  to  the  left,  in  military  costume,  and  the 
hair  in  a  cue. 
i^^ewt?.— WASHINGTON  PRESIDENT. 
Exergue. — 1791. 

Reverse. — A  ship  under  full  sail. 
Legend.— HALF  PENNY. 

^(i^e.— PAYABLE  IN  ANGLESY,  LONDON  OR  LIVERPOOL. 
(Size  8.     See  Plate  XHL, Figure  4.) 

The  same  as  the  above,  bearing  date  1793 ;  and  also  an  issue  varying  thus — under  the  ship 

are  two  laurel  branches  crossed. 

.  ■      •       .-..^*  .  .i  ,  - 

"  Liverpool  Half-Penny." 

1791.        Device. — The  bust  of  Washington. 

ie^ene^.— WASHINGTON  PRESIDENT. 

Uzergue.—1191. 

Reverse. — A  ship  under  full  sail. 

ie^eni.— LIVERPOOL  HALF  PENNY. 

(Sizes.     See  Plate  Xn.,  Figure  6.) 

Washington  Token. 

1795.        Device. — The  bust  of  Washington. 

Legend.— (mOR(m  WASHINGTON. 

Reverse. — A  spread  Eagle  over  the  American  shield,  on  which  is  emblazoned  the 

stars  and  stripes. 

Legend.— lilSERTY  AND  SECURITY. 

Exergue. — 1795. 

(Size  8.) 

"Washington  Coppers." 

1795.        Device. — The  bust  of  Washington,  facing  to  the  left,  in  military  uniform,  and  the 
hair  in  a  cue. 
jCe^ewd.— GEORGE  WASHINGTON 
,:>(:«■         Reverse. — A  harp-shaped  shield,  surmounted  by  an  Eagle  with  expanded  wings, 
grasping  in  the  right  talon  three  arrows,  and  in  the  left,  a  laurel  branch. 
The  shield  equally  divided — the  left  portion  containing  fifteen  stars,  and 
the  right,  the  same. 
Legend.— LJSERHY  AND  SECURITY. 
Exergue. — 1795. 

(Size  10.     Similar  to  Figure  10.,  Plate  XH.) 
Another  precisely  the  same  except  size,  which  is  8. 


COLONIAL    COINS.  139 

Device. — The  bust  of  Washington,  facing  to  the  right,  in  continental  uniform,  and 

hair  in  a  cue.  1795. 

Legend.— Q.  WASHINGTON  THE  FIRM  FRIEND  OF  PEACE  &  HIJMAinTY  ♦ 
Reverse. — A  coal-grate  elaborately  ornamented  in  front. 

Legend.— FAY ASLE.  BY  CLARK  &  HARRIS  13  WORMWOOD  ST  BISHOPS-GATE. 
Exergue.— LO'myO^  1795. 

(Size  9.    Edge  grained.) 


Of  this,  there  were  four  varieties — determined  by  the  arrangement  and  ornamenta- 
tion of  the  grate,  by  a  variation  in  the  pillars  —  ornamented  or  plain,  and  the  grate 
without  ornament.  These  pieces  evidently  found  their  way  into  the  hands  of  coin- 
dealers,  instead  of  subserving  the  purpose  for  which  they  were  gotten  up  —  that  of  a 
card — and  have  been  deemed  worthy  of  preservation  by  the  curious.  They  were  made 
of  good  copper,  and  the  workmanship  is  superior. 

Washington  Medalet. 

Device. — A  bust  of  Washington.  1796. 

Legend.— (mO^QlS.  WASHmGTON. 

Exergue.— Vl^%. 

Reverse. — Military  trophies,  on  a  banner  of  which  is  inscribed  REPUB  :  AMER  : 

Legend.— QiEWlu  OF  THE  AMERICAN  ARMIES,  1775.  RESIGN'D  THE  COMM'D, 
1783.  ELEC'D  PRESIDENT  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES,  1789.  RE- 
SIGNED THE  PRESIDENCY,  1796. 

(Size  12.) 

Washington  Medalet. 

Device. — The  bust  of  Washington,  in  citizen's  dress,  hair  in  a  cue,  and  facing  right.        1799. 
ie^ewd.— GEORGE  WASHINGTON  ESQ?  LATE  PRESIDENT  OF  THE 

UNITED  STATES  OF  AMERICA. 
Reverse. — ^A  festooned  wreath,  divided  by  thirteen  five-pointed  stars,  surmounted  by  thirteen 

barbed  arrows  bound  together  in  the  centre. 
Inscription.— WL'^YL  COURAGE  AND  FIDELITY  HE  DEFENDED  THE  RIGHTS 

OF  A  FREE  PEOPLE.    DIED  DEC?  14. 1799.    AGED  69. 
Legend.— MAim  COMMANDER  OF  THE  AMERICAN  FORCES  THE  15  JUNE  1775. 

(Size  12.) 


140  COLONIAL   COINS. 

WASHiNaTON  Medalets. 

Device. — The  bust  of  Washington,  facing  to  the  right. 

Legend.  — Q^    WASHINGTON    E?    GENERAL    OF    THE    CONTIN?'    ARMY    IN 

AMERICA. 
Reverie. — A  group  of  warlike  implements — viz.,  a  cannon,  mortar,  balls,  and  drum  in  the 

foreground,  and  in  the  background  flags,  trumpets,  &c. 
Legend.— KE,\jm.T  PAR  UN  RARE  ASSEMBLAGE  LES  TALENS  DU  GUERRIER 

ET  LES  VERTUS  DE  SAGE. 

(Size  12.) 

Device. — In  the  foreground,  the  bust  of  Washington  in  a  medallion  of  oval  form,  suspended 
from  the  beak  of  an  Eagle,  who  is  in  the  act  of  flying ;  in  the  background  a 
blaze  festooned  with  drapery,  in  the  centre  of  which  is  the 
Legend.— ?A!Y:^IA  PATER. 

Reverse.— ^TRTJCK  k  DISTRIBUTED  IN  CIVIC  PROCESSION  FEB^I  22^  1832., 
THE  CENTENNIAL  ANNIVERSARY  OF  THE  BIRTH-DAY  OF  WASH- 
mGTON  BY  THE  GOLD  &  SILVER  ARTIFICERS  OF  PHILAD. 

(Size  9.) 

This  collection,  with  similar  single  specimens  we  have  described,  shows  that,  at  the 
periods  of  time  they  were  issued,  the  name  and  fame  of  Washington  were  inseparable 
from  the  daily  thoughts  of  mankind  in  a  state  of  civilization,  inscribed  as  is  his  name 
or  bust  upon  every  piece. 

Perhaps  no  man  that  ever  lived  has  been  the  subject  of  so  much  honest  adulation — 
that  flowing  directly  from  the  heart — as  Washington;  and  it  is  universally  admitted 
that  no  one  more  justly  merited  it. 

The  feeling,  manifested  by  inscriptions  upon  gold,  silver,  brass,  and  copper  coins, 
tokens,  medalets,  &c.,  &c.,  still  exists ;  for,  since  the  times  when  they  were  issued, 
monuments  have  arisen,  and  are  still  rising  to  his  memory ;  his  name  has  been  given 
to  cities,  towns,  counties,  lakes,  mountains,  &c.,  &c.,  and  an  embryo  commonwealth 
will  soon  be  added  to  the  galaxy  of  sovereign  States  of  the  Union,  still  further  attesting 
the  love  and  admiration  with  which  his  name  is  remembered. 

Potentates,  by  the  authority  of  force  or  their  own  laws,  have  impressed  their  names 
and  efiigies  upon  coins ;  and  superstition,  bigotry,  love  of  splendor,  courtier  adulation, 
and  demagoguism  have  originated  medals,  statues,  monuments,  &c.,  to  living  and  departed 
greatness.  But  all  these,  unlike  the  voluntary  tributes  of  freemen  to  Washington, 
have  no  connection  with  the  great  humanitarian  work  by  which  he  sought  to  enlighten 
and  elevate  mankind,  and  which  has  immortalized  him. 


COLONIAL    COINS.  141 

Whatever,  then,  relates  to  Washington  in  the  past,  is  not  only  an  index  of  the 
by-gone,  but  an  earnest  of  the  future  for  his  memory,  which  will  be  as  imperishable 
as  the  planet  upon  which  we  live. 

Though  our  present  form  of  government  may  ultimately  fail,  and  the  people  of  this 
now  glorious  Union  sink  into  subjective  degradation  —  the  consequence  only  of  the 
neglect  of  the  principles  he  left  them  as  a  legacy  for  their  guidance  —  his  name  will 
survive  for  the  just  and  humane  part  which  he  personated  in  the  great  drama  of 
universal  human  rights. 

Washington  Medalet. 

Device. — A  bust  of  Washington,  in  military  uniform,  the  hair  in  a  cue,  and  facing        1799. 

to  the  left,  surrounded  by  a  wreath  of  laurel. 
Legend.— im  IS  IN  GLORY ,  THE  WORLD  IN  TEARS. 
Reverse. — A  large  Urn  with  the  initials  G.  W.  in  the  side. 

Legend.— B.  F.  11,  1732.     G.  A.  ARM.  '75. ,  R.  '83,    P.  U.  S.  A.  '89,  K  '96.     G.  ARM. 
U.  S.  '98.  ,  OB.  D.  14,  1799. 

(Size  8.     See  Plate  TOIL,  Figure  6.) 

Deeming  them  interesting,  we  have  described  a  number  of  these  medalets  in  our 
pages.  This  one  made  its  appearance  at  the  time  of  the  death  of  Washington,  in 
type-metal,  copper,  silver,  and  gold.  The  dates,  though  not  so  noted,  are  0.  S.  which 
prevailed  at  the  time  of  the  birth  of  Washington.  The  artist,  so  far  as  we  have  been 
able  to  discover,  is  unknown. 

Like  other  medalets  of  Washington,  it  undoubtedly  had  its  basis  in  the  love  and 
esteem  in  which  he  was  held  by  his  countrymen ;  and  also  to  commemorate  the  birth, 
public  employment  and  death  of  that  distinguished  civilian  and  soldier. 

It  can  excite  no  surprise  that  every  species  of  emblem  that  ingenuity  could  devise 
and  art  execute,  should  have  been  produced  to  enliven  and  perpetuate  his  memory ; 
'  seeing  as  we  do,  that  they  are  now  treasured  up  with  a  regard  and  an  affection  as 
fresh  and  as  durable  as  they  were  half  a  century  ago.  Time  can  make  no  mutations 
upon  Washington's  peerless  escutcheon,  nor  can  it  diminish  the  admiration  with  which 
his  memory  will  ever  be  held  by  the  civilized  world. 


142  COLONIAL    COINS. 

"Washington  Medalets. 

Device. — ^A  bust  of  Washington,  face  front,  and  in  citizen's  dress. 

Legend.— Gm^RAJj  WASHINGTON. 

Reverse. — The  American  eagle,  facing  front,  with  expanded  wings,  on  the  breast  our 

national  shield  with  stripes,  and  holding  in  its  talons  the  arrows  and  olive 

'^'^'^  branch.  ""''•'' 

Legend.— m  UNITATE  FORTITUDO. 

Exergue.— ^VJEL-'MJmZE.. 

(Size  5.) 

Device.— The  bust  of  Washington,  face  front,  and  in  citizen's  dress. 

Legend.— (mWERKL  WASHINGTON. 

Reverse. — The  bust  of  the  Goddess  of  Liberty,  facing  to  the  left,  around  the  head  the  word 

LIBERTY,  and  under  the  bust  ten  six-pointed  stars. 
Legend.— COMPOS  .  SPEIL  MUNZE. 

(Size  7.) 

These  pieces  were  gotten  up  in  Germany,  but  from  what  motive  or  for  what  purpose 
we  are  unable  positively  to  state.  Probably,  however,  for  counters  —  the  civilized 
world,  at  the  time  of  their  manufacture,  being  so  full  of  the  name  and  fame  of 
Washington,  that  it  was  quite  natural  that  his  Q^gy,  in  the  absence  of  the  original, 
should  be  made  a  household  god  in  some  form. 

They  were  of  two  sizes,  and  the  portrait  of  Washington  upon  them  is  so  good,  that 
it  not  only  confers  credit  upon  the  artist,  but  would  render  it  a  fitting  adornment  for 
any  similar  production. 

Of  the  former,  we  have  seen  seven  varieties.  Though  like  some  others  we  have 
introduced  into  this  work,  not  important  in  themselves,  we  have  described  them,  in 
order  that  their  proper  relation  and  value  may  be  established  in  our  general  purpose. 
These  medalets  are  composed  of  brass,  and  the  largest  of  the  two  we  have  seen  heavily 
gilded  with  gold,  making  it  a  very  pretty  cabinet  ornament 

Washington  Medalet. 

Device. — The  bust  of  Washington,  facing  to  the  right,  in  military  costume,  a  military  cloak 

thrown  negligently  over  the  shoulders,  and  the  hair  in  a  cue. 
Exergue. — Conradt  No.  170.  N.  Fourth  street. 
Reverse. — A  wreath,  composed  of  the  oak  and  laurel,  with  acorns  and  laurel  blossoms, 

connected  at  each  end  by  a  five-pointed  star. 
Legend.— TSE  FATHER  OF  HIS  COUNTRY. 
Exergue.— Y eh.  22,  1832.     Philadelphia. 

rSize  9.) 


COLONIAL   COINS.  143 

This  medalet  is  of  modern  origin,  and  was  gotten  up  by  Mr.  Conradt,  an  ingenious 
mechanic  of  Philadelphia.  Its  execution  shows  that  he  possessed  very  considerable 
natural  ability  as  a  die-sinker  —  the  bust  of  "Washington  on  the  same  being  excellent, 
and  falling  but  little  below  the  standard  of  the  best  we  have  seen. 

The  motive  for  getting  it  up  may  have  been  a  test  of  skill,  laudable  admiration  for 
the  character  of  the  "  Father  of  his  Country,"  that  fills  every  heart,  and  is  fain  to 
exhibit  itself  in  every  form  and  upon  every  practicable  occasion,  or,  united  with  this, 
perhaps  as  a  card. 

Columbia  Copper. 

Device. — ^A  head  in  the  field. 

Legend.— COJjUMBIA. 

Reverse. — A  female  figure  seated,  holding  a  balance. 

This  coin  is  about  the  size  of  our  dime,  is  without  a  date,  and  is  familiarly  known 
among  collectors  as  the  Columbia  token.  We  notice  it  because  it  has  had  the  reputation, 
from  various  public  sources,  of  being  a  North  American  coin.  This  coin  and  its 
history  is  well  known  in  Birmingham,  England,  where  it  was  struck  off*  in  1830,  and 
designed  for  circulation  in  Columbia,  South  America.  There  are  four  types ;  we  have 
seen  them  in  both  copper  and  mixed  metals,  but  most  generally  in  brass. 

De  Dansk.  Americ. 

Device. — A  figure  formed  of   inverted  C's  and  6*8,  surmounted  by  a  crown.  1740. 

Legend.— ^OWZ  ■  VAN  •  G  •  D  •  G  •  REX  •  DAN. 
Beverse.—  •  II  •  SKTLLING  •  DANSKE  •  .1740  •    •  C  •  W  • 
Legend.— EYLAKD  •  KABB  •  MYNT  •    DE  •  DANSK  •  AMERIC  • 

(Size  8.     See  Plate  XI.,  Figure  15.) 

This  coin  was  issued  for  the  Danish  West  India  Islands,  as  the  date  shows,  in  1740, 
during  the  reign  of  Christian  VI.,  king  of  Norway  and  Denmark,  and  duke  of 
Hoi  stein. 

It  is  known  among  collectors  as  we  have  designated  it;  and  though  it  has  no 
connection  with  the  Anglo-American  colonies,  we  have  given  it  a  place  in  this  work 
on  account  of  its  antiquity ;  but  chiefly,  because  it  is  found  in  many  cabinets,  and  is 
highly  esteemed  by  its  possessors. 

This  is  the  only  piece  of  the  kind  we  have  seen,  that  occupies  so  early  a  relation  to 
the  history  of  money  in  this  hemisphere.  Looking  back  to  the  period  of  its  emission — 
one  hundred  and  eighteen  years  ago  —  we  are  reminded  of  the  feeble  condition  and 
undeveloped  power  of  a  continent,  which,  in  its  rapid  advancement,  threatens  soon  to 


144  COLONIAL    COINS. 

become  the  seat  of  empire  for  the  world — at  least  for  the  dissemination  of  the  principles 
of  self-government,  without  which  no  nation  can  avail  itself  fully  of  either  its 
intellectual  or  physical  resources  —  as  man  thought  for  is  a  mere  machine,  falsifying  the 
great  purposes  of  his  creation  and  destiny. 

North  American  Token. 

1781.        Device. — A  female  figure  seated,  and  supporting  with  her  left  hand  a  harp. 
Legend.— EOKYU  AMERICAN  TOKEN. 
Exergue. — 1781. 

Reverse. — A  brig  under  full  sail, 
ig^ent^.— COMMERCE. 

(Size7J.    See  Plate  XI.,  Figure  14.) 

This  piece,  among  the  numerous  experiments  of  the  kind,  was  undoubtedly  originally 
intended  for  a  currency.  It  had  the  recommendation  of  a  figure  of  a  female,  who, 
from  the  accompaniment  of  a  harp,  must  have  been  somewhat  musical ;  and  for  a 
legend,  commerce,  exemplified  by  the  figure  of  a  brig,  the  design  and  proportions  of 
which  would  carry  one  back  to  an  early  period  in  naval  architecture.  Of  this  piece 
there  were  two  types. 


PLATE    XIII. 


LMU.cn!l,.aL;ti.H„".,a^' 


PAET  V. 

UNITED    STATES. 


COINS    OF    THE    UNITED    STATES    MINT. 

These  have  been  so  fully  and  ably  described,  and  treated  of,  by  Messrs.  Eckfeldt 
and  Du  Bois,  the  very  able  Assayers  of  the  Mint,  in  their  "  Manual"  of  1842,  and 
Supplement  to  the  same,  of  1851,  that,  to  the  latter  date,  we  find  the  field  of 
knowledge  not  only  harvested,  but  gleaned.  The  extracts  from  their  works  will  be 
credited  by  the  usual  quotation  marks. 

"On  the  22d  of  April,  1792,  a  code  of  laws  was  enacted  for  the  regulation  of  the 
Mint,  under  which,  with  slight  changes,  the  coinage  was  executed  for  forty-two  years. 

"  The  denominations  of  coins,  with  their  rates,  were  as  follows,  viz : 

*'GoLD. — The  eagle  or  ten  dollars,  to  weigh  270  grains;  the  half  and  quarter  eagle 
in  proportion;  all  of  the  fineness  of  22  carats  or  917-lOOOths. 

"  Silver. — The  dollar,  of  one  hundred  cents,  to  weigh  416  grains;  the  half,  quarter, 
dime  (one-tenth),  and  half-dime  (one-twentieth),  in  proportion. 

"Copper. — The  cent,  by  the  act  of  1792,  to  weigh  264  grains,  the  half-cent  in 
proportion.  Since  that  act,  the  following  alterations  of  the  standard  have  been  made. 
On  the  14th  of  January,  1793,  the  weight  of  the  cent  was  reduced  to  208  grains,  and 
the  half-cent  in  proportion.  January  26th,  1796,  President  Washington  issued  a 
proclamation,  as  he  had  been  empowered  to  do  by  law,  that  '  on  account  of  the  increase 
of  the  price  of  copper  and  the  expense  of  coinage,  the  cent  would  be  reduced  to  7  dwts. 
or  168  grains,  and  the  half-cent  in  proportion.'  The  copper  coins  have  since  remained 
at  this  standard. 

"June  28th,  1834,  an  act  was  passed  changing  the  weight  and  fineness  of  the  gold 
coins,  and  the  relative  value  of  gold  to  silver.  It  was  found  that  the  estimate  of  gold, 
19  (145) 


146  UNITED    STATES. 

upon  the  original  basis  of  being  worth  fifteen  times  as  much  as  silver,  was  too  low  for 
the  market  value,  which,  though  always  fluctuating,  was  nearer  sixteen  to  one  upon 
a  general  average.  The  effect  of  our  legal  proportions  was  to  reduce  the  coinage  of 
gold,  and  to  restrain  its  circulation.  Being  always  at  a  premium,  the  coin  w^as 
immediately  exported  to  Europe  in  the  course  of  trade,  and  then  quickly  wrought 
into  other  shapes. 

"  To  provide  a  remedy  for  this  evil,  engaged  the  attention  of  some  of  our  most 
eminent  statesmen  for  a  term  of  fifteen  years. ^  At  length,  in  June,  1834,  the  weight 
of  the  eagle  was  reduced  by  law  to  258  grains  —  the  parts  in  proportion  —  of  which 
232  grains  must  be  of  fine  gold,  making  the  fineness  21  carats  2U  car.  grains,  or 
899tWo.  This  was  an  increase  of  Qi%V^  per  cent,  on  the  former  value  of  gold.  The 
silver  coinage  was  unchanged. 

"  The  disadvantage  of  the  complex  standards  of  fineness,  both  in  gold  and  silver, 
which  were  difficult  to  be  expressed  or  remembered,  and  very  inconvenient  in  regard 
to  the  frequent  calculations  which  were  based  upon  them,  early  determined  the 
Director  to  endeavor  to  effect  an  improvement.  The  standard  of  nine-tenths  fine,  as 
adopted  in  France  and  some  other  countries,  was  obviously  the  most  simple,  and,  upon 
any  consideration,  the  most  suitable. 

"  To  bring  our  silver  coins  to  that  proportion,  without  changing  the  amount  of  fine 
silver  in  them,  it  was  only  necessary  to  put  less  copper  by  three  and  a  half  grains  in 
the  dollar,  reducing  its  weight  to  412 J  grains.  The  weight  of  the  gold  was  not  to  be 
changed,  but  the  fineness  increased  about  three-fourths  of  one-thousandth,  a  difference 
much  within  the  scope  of  the  legal  allowance,  and  of  course  hardly  appreciable. 
These  proportions  were  incorporated  in  a  carefully  digested  and  consolidated  code  of 
mint  laws,  which  was  enacted  by  Congress  in  January,  1837.  By  that  act,  the  eagle 
is  to  be  900  thousandths  fine,  and  to  weigh  258  grains,  the  half  and  quarter  in 
proportion ;  and  the  dollar,  at  the  same  fineness,  to  weigh  412J  grains,  the  parts  in 
proportion  :   the   relative   value,  therefore,  of  silver  to  gold  is  15.9884  to  1.     The 

^  Eminent  statesmen  engaged  for  a  term  of  fifteen  years,  to  provide  a  remedy  for  the  exportation  of  gold  1 
An  expressive  commentary  upon  the  economical  perceptions  and  practical  reasoning  of  American  statesmen  ! 
Surely,  the  theoretical  knowledge  acquired  at  college  or  in  a  law  office,  relative  to  political  economy,  is  of  but 
little  practical  use.  Could  not  that  little  matter  of  a  balance  of  trade  against  the  country,  and  whicli 
unceasingly  drained  it  of  its  gold,  have  been  obviated  by  the  necessary  protection  to  American  labor;  thereby 
making  the  exports,  independent  of  gold,  equal  to  the  imports  ?  If  that  had  been  done  —  practicable  at  any 
moment  —  urged  as  it  was  by  the  most  patriotic  statesmen  ever  devoted  to  any  country's  service  and  welfare, 
experience  shows  that  it  would  have  been  unnecessary  to  have  legislated  up  the  value  of  gold  to  have 
prevented  its  exportation.  Subsequently,  our  trans-atlantic  friends  sought  our  silver,  which  was  the  subject 
of  active  export. 


UNITED    STATES.  147 

allowed  deviations  in  fiueness  for  gold,  is  from  898  to  902,  for  silver,  897  to  903  —  the 
practical  limits  here  are,  for  gold,  899  to  901,  silver,  898  to  902. 

"  Until  the  year  1835  there  was  but  one  mint,  which  was  located  in  Philadelphia. 
In  that  year  three  branches  were  created  by  act  of  Congress ;  two  of  these  were  for 
the  coinage  of  gold  only,  and  were  to  be  situated  at  the  towns  of  Charlotte,  in  North 
Carolina,  and  Dahlonega,  Georgia  —  central  points  in  the  gold  mining  region.  The 
third  branch  was  for  both  gold  and  silver,  and  located  at  New  Orleans." 

By  act  of  Congress  of  July  3,  1852,  the  Branch  Mint  at  San  Francisco,  California, 
Avas  established.  By  act  of  March  4,  1853,  an  assay  office  was  established  in  New 
York,  for  the  melting,  refining,  parting,  and  assaying  of  gold  and  silver  bullion  and 
foreign  coins,  and  for  casting  the  same  into  bars,  ingots  or  disks,  either  of  pure  metal 
or  standard  fineness,  as  the  owner  might  prefer  —  provided  that  no  ingot,  bar,  or  disk, 
shall  be  cast  of  less  weight  than  five  ounces,  unless  the  same  be  of  standard  fineness, 
and  of  either  one,  two,  or  three  ounces  in  weight.  And  all  gold  or  silver  bullion,  and 
foreign  coin,  intended  by  the  depositor  to  be  converted  into  the  coins  of  the  United 
States,  shall,  as  soon  as  assayed  and  its  net  value  is  certified,  be  transferred  to  the  Mint 
of  the  United  States,  under  such  directions  as  shall  be  made  by  the  Secretary  of  the 
Treasury,  and  at  the  expense  of  the  contingent  fund  of  the  Mint,  and  shall  there  be 
coined. 

"  These  institutions  are  respectively  managed  by  superintendents,  who  are  under  the 
control  of  the  director  of  the  parent  Mint. 

'*  The  whole  Mint  establishment  is  thus  constituted,  in  itself,  a  bureau  or  branch  of 
the  Treasury  Department  of  the  General  Government,  and  is  under  the  supervision  of 
the  Secretary  of  the  Treasury.  Its  operations  are  annually  reported  through  the 
President  to  Congress,  and  are  laid  open  to  the  public  through  that  body. 

"  By  the  act  of  March  3d,  1849,  two  new  gold  coins,  the  double-eagle  and  the  dollar, 
were  added  to  the  list,  the  former  weighing  516  grains,  or  21  i  pennyweights,  the  latter 
25 /o  grains. 

"  The  new  Postage  law  of  March  3d,  1851,  provided  for  the  coinage  of  a  three-cent 
piece,  composed  of  three-fourths  silver  and  one-fourth  copper,  and  weighing  12f  grains;" 
and  by  the  act  of  Congress  of  March  3d,  1853,  this  three-cent  coin  was  altered  from 
121  grains,  to  weigh  the  three-fiftieths  of  the  weight  of  the  half-dollar — reduced  under 
the  same  law  from  206i  grains  to  192 — or  11|§  grains.  Of  this  coin,  "pattern-pieces"  were 
gotten  up,  which  we  have  described  under  that  head,  the  very  diminutive  size  of  which, 
on  their  first  appearance,  suggested,  outside  of  the  Mint,  the  form  of  a  flat  ring  on  the 
score  of  safety — a  pattern  for  a  gold  dollar,  subsequently,  having  been  gotten  up  in  that 
form.    As  issued,  however,  it  is  a  very  useful  coin,  and  custom  has  rendered  it  not  only 


148 


UNITED    STATES. 


very  convenient,  but  a  safe  size.  By  the  act  of  March  3d,  1853,  it  was  also  enacted 
that  the  weight  of  the  half-dollar  or  piece  of  fifty  cents  should  be  192  grains,  and  the 
quarter,  dime,  and  half-dime  respectively,  one-half,  one-fifth,  and  one-tenth  the  weight 
of  said  half-dollar.  Thus  it  appears  that  the  dollar  was  reduced  in  weight,  by  the  act 
of  January  18th,  1837,  from  416  to  412i  grains,  and  the  parts  in  proportion;  which 
reduced  the  half-dollar  II  grains  in  weight,  and  by  the  act  of  March  3d,  1853,  the 
half-dollar  was  reduced  from  206i  grains  to  192  —  14i  grains  —  and  the  quarter,  dime, 
and  half-dime  in  proportion  —  the  silver  dollar  under  this  act  being  untouched,  and: 
remaining  as  under  the  act  of  January  18th,  1837,  at  412J  grains.  ( 

Under  the  act  of  March  3d,  1853,  the  three-dollar  gold  pieces  were  authorized  to  bej 
struck  and  coined,  conformably  to  the  standard  of  gold  coins  established  by  law,  which 
made  them  77|  grains  in  weight. 

The  following  are  the  various  standards  of  the  gold  and  silver  coins. 


DATE, 

GOLD  EAGLE. 

SILVER 
DOLLAR. 

HALF 
DOLLAR. 

QUARTER. 

DIME. 

HALF 
DIME. 

SILVER. 

Weight. 
Grs. 

FineDess. 
Thous. 

Weight. 
Grs. 

Weight. 
Grs. 

Weight 
Grs. 

Weight. 
Grs. 

Weight. 
Grs. 

Fineness. 
Thous. 

Act  of  April        2,  1792 

«       June       28,  1834 

'       January  18,  1837 

"       March       3,  1853 

270, 

258, 
258. 
258. 

916.7 
899.2 
900. 
900. 

416. 
416. 
412.5 
412.5 

192. 

96. 

38| 

19i 

892.4 

892.4 

900. 

900. 

By  act  of  February  21st,  1857,  Sec.  4,  it  was  enacted  that  the  standard  weight  of 
the  cent  coined  at  the  Mint  should  be  72  grains,  or  three-twentieths  of  one  ounce  Troy, 
with  no  greater  deviation  than  four  grains  in  each  piece ;  and  said  coin  shall  be  com- 
posed of  eighty-eight  per  centum  of  copper  and  twelve  per  centum  of  nickel,  of  such 
shape  and  device  as  may  be  fixed  by  the  director  of  the  Mint,  with  the  approbation  of 
the  Secretary  of  the  Treasury ;  and  the  coinage  of  the  half-cent  shall  cease. 

"  Sec.  6.  That  it  shall  be  lawful  to  pay  out  the  said  cent  at  the  Mint  in  exchange 
for  any  of  the  gold  and  silver  coins  of  the  United  States,  and  also  in  exchange  for  the 
copper  coins  issued.  And  it  shall  also  be  lawful  for  the  space  of  two  years  from  the 
passage  of  this  act,  and  no  longer,  to  pay  out  at  the  Mint  the  cents  aforesaid,  for  the 
pieces  commonly  known  as  the  quarter,  eighth,  and  sixteenth  of  the  Spanish  pillar- 
dollar,  and  of  the  Mexican  dollar." 

Under  this  act,  successful  inducements  are  presented  for  retiring  the  old  copper  cents 
which  had  been  an  "institution,"  under  the  Federal  government,  from  1793  to  1857, 
or  about  sixty-four  years.     And,  previous  to  the  establishment  of  the  present  Mint, 


UNITED    STATES.  149 

the  "copper,  with  a  multitude  of  devices  —  royal  and  republican  —  had,  for  more  than 
one  hundred  and  fifty  years,  been  the  daily  companion  of  millions  of  people,  and  the 
convenient  facility  for  the  exchange  of  millions  of  value.  We  could  mourn  over  the 
final  banishment  of  these  ancient  coins  and  their  more  modern  successors,  were  it  not 
that  their  fac-similes  will  be  preserved,  and  that,  hence,  we  will  still  be  able  to  con- 
template their  interesting  faces,  and  gather  wisdom  from  the  many  philosophic  and 
patriotic  impressions,  sayings  and  inscriptions,  which  they  present  for  our  gratification 
and  enlightenment. 


«A  BRIEF  ACCOUNT  OF  THE  PROCESSES  EMPLOYED  IN  THE  ASSAY  OF 
GOLD  AND  SILVER  COINS  AT  THE  MINT  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES, 
PREPARED  FOR  THE  USE  OF  THE  COMMISSIONERS  APPOINTED 
TO  ATTEND  THE  ANNUAL  ASSAYS. 

"Principles  of  Operation. 

"According  to  law  the  standard  of  the  gold  of  the  United  States  is  so  constituted, 
that  in  1000  parts  by  weight,  900  shall  be  of  pure  gold,  and  100  of  an  alloy  composed 
of  copper  and  silver, 

"  The  process  of  assay  requires  that  the  copper  and  silver  be  both  entirely  removed 
from  the  gold ;  and  to  effect  this,  two  separate  operations  are  necessary. 

"  The  first  is  for  the  removal  of  the  copper,  and  this  is  done  by  a  method  called 
cupellation,  which  is  conducted  in  an  assay  furnace,  in  a  cupel  composed  of  calcined 
bones.  To  the  other  metals,  lead  is  added;  this  metal  possesses  the  properties  of 
oxidizing  and  vitrifying  under  the  action  of  heat,  of  promoting  at  the  same  time  the 
oxidation  of  the  copper  and  other  base  metals,  and  of  drawing  with  it  into  the  pores 
of  the  cupel  the  whole  of  those  metals,  so  as  to  separate  entirely  this  part  of  the  alloy, 
and  to  leave  behind  the  gold  and  silver  only. 

"  The  separation  of  the  silver  from  the  gold  is  effected  by  a  process  founded  on  the 
property  possessed  by  nitric  acid  of  dissolving  silver  without  acting  upon  gold.  But 
that  the  gold  may  not  protect  the  silver  from  this  action,  sufficient  silver  must  first  be 
added  to  make  it  at  least  two-thirds  of  the  mass.  The  process  to  be  described  is  based 
upon  the  rule  of  quartation,  in  which  the  proportion  of  silver  is  three-fourths. 

"Process  of  Assay. 

"  The  reserved  gold  coins  are  placed  in  a  black  lead  crucible,  and  covered  with  borax, 
to  assist  the  fluxing  and  to  prevent  the  oxidation  of  the  copper  alloy.     They  are  thus 


150  UNITED    STATES. 

melted  down  and  stirred;  by  which  a  complete  mixture  is  effected,  so  that  an  assay 
piece  may  be  taken  from  any  part  of  the  bar  cast  out.  The  piece  taken  for  this  pur- 
pose is  rolled  out  for  convenience  of  cutting.  It  is  then  taken  to  an  assay  balance 
(sensible  to  the  ten-thousandth  of  a  half  gramme  or  less),  and  from  it  is  weighed  a 
half  gramme,  which  is  the  normal  assay  weight  for  gold,  being  about  7.7  grains  Troy. 
This  weight  is  stamped  1000,  and  all  the  lesser  weights  (afterwards  brought  into 
requisition)  are  decimal  divisions  of  the  weight,  down  to  one  ten-thousandth  part. 

"  Silver  is  next  weighed  out  for  the  quartation,  and  as  the  assay  piece,  if  standard, 
should  contain  900-thousandth  of  gold,  there  must  be  three  times  tliis  weight,  or 
2700-thousandths  of  silver,  and  this  is  accordingly  the  quantity  used.  It  is  true  that 
there  is  already  some  silver  in  the  alloy,  but  a  little  excess  over  the  quantity  required 
for  the  quartation  does  no  injury  to  the  process. 

"  The  lead  used  for  the  cupellation  is  kept  prepared  in  thin  sheets  cut  into  square 
pieces,  which  should  each  weigh  about  ten  times  as  much  as  the  gold  under  assays. 

"  The  lead  is  now  rolled  into  the  form  of  a  hollow  cone,  and  into  this  are  introduced 
the  assay  gold  and  the  quartation  silver,  when  the  lead  is  closed  round  them,  and 
pressed  into  a  ball. 

"  The  furnace  having  been  properly  heated,  and  the  cupels  placed  in  it,  and  brought 
to  the  same  temperature,  the  leaden  ball,  with  its  contents,  is  put  into  one  of  the 
cupels,  the  furnace  closed,  and  the  operation  allowed  to  proceed  until  all  agitation  is 
ceased  to  be  observed  in  the  melted  metal,  and  its  surface  has  become  bright. 

"  This  is  an  indication  that  the  whole  of  the  base  metals  have  been  converted  into 
oxides  and  absorbed  by  the  cupel. 

"  The  cupellation  being  thus  finished,  the  metal  is  allowed  to  cool  slowly,  and  the 
disc  or  button  which  it  forms  is  detached  from  the  cupel. 

"The  button  is  then  flattened  by  a  hammer;  is  annealed  by  bringing  it  to  a  red 
heat;  is  laminated  bypassing  it  between  rollers;  is  again  annealed;  and  is  rolled 
loosely  into  a  spiral  or  coil  called  a  cornet.  It  is  now  ready  for  the  process  of 
quartation. 

"For  this  purpose  it  is  introduced  into  a  matrass  containing  about  li  ounces  of 
nitric  acid,  at  22°  of  Baurae's  hydrometer ;  and  in  this  acid  it  is  boiled  for  ten  minutes, 
as  indicated  by  a  sand-glass. 

"  The  acid  is  then  poured  off,  and  three-fourths  of  an  ounce  of  stronger  acid,  at  32°, 
is  substituted  for  it,  in  which  the  gold  is  boiled  for  ten  minutes, 

"  This  second  acid  is  then  also  poured  off,  and  another  equal  charge  of  acid  of  the 
same  strength  is  introduced,  in  which  the  gold  is  kept  for  ten  minutes  longer. 

"  It  is  then  presumed  that  the  whole  of  the  silver  has  been  removed,  and  the  gold 


UNITED    STATES.  151 

is  taken  out,  washed  in  pure  water,  and  exposed  in  a  crucible  to  a  red  heat,  for  the 
purpose  of  drying,  strengthening,  and  annealing  it. 

"  Lastly,  the  cornet  of  fine  gold  thus  formed  is  placed  in  the  assay  balance,  and  the 
number  of  thousandths  which  it  weighs  expresses  the  fineness  of  the  gold  assayed,  in 
thousandths. 

"Test  Assay. 

"  To  test  the  accuracy  of  this  process  the  following  method  is  employed : 
"A  roll  of  gold  of  absolute  purity,  which  has  been  kept  under  the  seal  of  the  chair- 
man of  the  assay  commissioners,  is  opened  in  their  presence,  and  from  it  is  taken  the 
weight  of  900  parts.     To  this  are  added  75  of  copper,  and  25  of  silver  j  so  as  to  form, 
with  the  gold,  a  weight  of  1000  parts,  of  the  exact  legal  standard. 

"  This  is  passed  through  the  same  process  of  assay  as  the  other  gold,  and  at  the  same 
time.  After  the  assay  is  finished  it  is  evident  that  the  pure  gold  remaining  ought  to 
weigh  exactly  900.  If,  however,  from  any  cause,  it  be  found  to  differ  from  this  weight, 
and  therefore  to  require  a  correction,  it  is  assumed  that  the  same  correction  must  be 
made  in  the  other  assays,  and  this  is  done  accordingly." 


"ASSAY    OF    SILVER    COINS. 

"Principles  of  the  Operation. 

"  The  standard  silver  of  the  United  States  is  so  constituted  that  of  a  1000  parts  by 
weight,  900  shall  be  of  pure  silver,  and  100  of  copper. 

"  The  process  of  assay  requires  that  the  exact  proportion  of  silver  in  a  given  weight 
of  the  compound  be  ascertained,  and  this  is  done  by  a  method  called  the  humid  assay, 
which  may  be  explained  as  follows  : 

"  The  silver  and  copper  may  both  be  entirely  dissolved  in  nitric  acid ;  and  if  to  a 
solution  thus  made  another  of  common  salt  in  water  be  added,  the  silver  will  be  pre- 
cipitated in  the  form  of  a  white  powder,  which  is  an  insoluble  chloride,  while  the  copper 
will  remain  unaffected. 

"  Now  it  has  been  ascertained  that  100  parts  by  weight  of  pure  salt  will  convert  into 
chloride  of  silver  just  184.25  parts  of  pure  silver.  Consequently  the  quantity  of  salt 
necessary  to  convert  into  chloride  1000  parts  of  silver  is  542.74,  as  found  by  the 
proportion  — 

184.25  :  100  :  :  1000  :  542.74. 


162  UNITED   STATES. 

"A  standard  solution  of  salt  is  accordingly  so  prepared  as  that  a  given  measure  (the 
French  decilitre)  shall  contain  542.74  thousandths  of  a  gramme  of  salt.  The  normal 
weight  employed  for  silver  assays  is  the  gramme  (equal  to  about  15.4  Troy  grains), 
which  is  marked  1000,  and  has  its  subdivisions,  in  practical  weighings,  to  the  half  or 
quarter  thousandth. 

"  Besides  this  standard  solution,  which  effects  the  main  precipitation  of  chloride  of 
silver,  there  is  a  decimal  solution  of  one-tenth  the  proportion  of  salt,  which  it  is  expe- 
dient to  use  for  the  lesser  and  final  precipitations. 

"In  the  mode  of  assay  under  consideration,  it  is  necessary  that  the  portion  of 
alloyed  silver  used  shall  contain  as  nearly  as  may  be,  1000  parts  of  pure  silver.  The 
rigid  standard  requires  that  of  1000  parts  by  weight,  900  shall  be  of  pure  silver;  but 
the  law  allows  a  variation  from  this  ratio,  provided  that  it  do  not  exceed  three-thou- 
sandths. The  fineness  may,  therefore,  be  as  low  as  897,  and  as  high  as  903.  In  the 
practice  of  the  assay,  it  is  found  most  convenient  to  assume  the  lower  extreme.  Now, 
the  weight  of  metal,  of  the  fineness  897,  which  would  contain  1000  parts  of  silver,  is 
1114.83;  as  found  by  the  proportion  — 

897  :  1000  :  :  1000  :  1114.83. 

"  The  nearest  integer  to  this  number  is  employed,  and  the  weight  of  metal  taken  for 
the  assay  is  1115. 

"Process  of  Assay. 

"  The  reserved  silver  coins  are  melted  together  in  a  black  lead  crucible,  with  the 
addition  of  fine  charcoal  within  the  pot,  to  prevent  oxidation,  and  to  allow  of  dipping 
out.  After  stirring,  a  small  portion  of  the  fluid  metal  is  poured  quickly  into  water, 
producing  a  granulatwn  ;  from  which  the  portion  for  assay  is  taken.  As  this  differs 
from  the  mode  pursued  with  gold,  it  must  be  specially  noted,  that  in  the  case  of  silver 
alloyed  with  copper,  there  is  a  separation,  to  a  greater  or  less  degree,  between  the  two 
metals  in  the  act  of  gradual  solidification.  Thus  an  ingot  cooled  in  a  mould,  or  any 
single  coin  cut  out  of  such  ingot,  though  really  900  thousandths  fine  on  the  average, 
will  show  such  variations,  according  to  the  place  of  cutting,  as  might  even  exceed  the 
limits  allowed  by  law.  This  fact  has  been  established  by  many  experiments,  both  in 
this  Mint  and  the  Mint  of  Paris,  since  the  enactment  of  our  Mint  law ;  and  it  possesses 
the  stubborness  of  a  law  of  chemistry.  But  the  sudden  chill  produced  by  throwing 
the  liquid  metal  into  water,  yields  a  granulation  of  entirely  homogeneous  mixture,  and 
it  can  be  proved  that  the  same  fineness  results,  whether  by  assaying  a  single  granule, 
or  part  of  one,  or  a  number  together. 


UNITED    STATES.  153 

"From  this  sample  the  weight  of  1115  thousandths  is  taken,  which  is  dissolved  in 
a  glass  bottle  with  nitric  acid. 

"  Into  this  solution  the  large  pipette-full  of  standard  solution  of  salt  is  introduced, 
and  it  produces  immediately  a  white  precipitate,  which  is  chloride  of  silver,  and  which 
contains,  of  the  metallic  silver,  1000  parts. 

"  To  make  this  chloride  subside  to  the  bottom  of  the  vessel  and  leave  the  liquid 
clear,  it  is  necessary  that  it  be  violently  shaken  in  the  bottle ;  and  this  is  accordingly 
done,  by  a  mechanical  arrangement,  for  the  necessary  time. 

"  Unless  the  coins  have  chanced  to  be  below  the  allowable  limit  of  standard,  tne 
liquid  will  still  contain  silver  in  solution,  and  accordingly  a  portion  of  the  decimal 
solution  is  introduced  from  the  small  pipette,  capable  of  precipitating  a  thousandth  of 
silver,  and  a  white  cloud  of  chloride  will  show  itself.  More  doses  are  added  if  the 
indications  require  it. 

"  The  liquid  is  again  shaken  and  cleared,  and  the  process  is  thus  repeated,  until  the 
addition  of  the  salt  water  shows  only  a  faint  trace  of  chloride  below  the  upper  surface 
of  the  liquid. 

*'Tiet  us  suppose,  for  the  sake  of  example,  that  tnree  measures  of  the  decimal 
solution  have  been  used  with  effect.  This  will  show  that  the  1115  parts  of  the  coin 
contained  1003  of  pure  silver ;  and  thus  the  proportion  of  pure  silver  in  the  whole 
alloyed  metal  is  ascertained. 

'^Test  Assay. 

"  For  the  foregoing  process  to  be  exact,  it  is  necessary  that  the  saline  solution  be  of 
the  true  standard  strength,  or  be  such  that  the  quantity  of  it,  measured  in  the  large 
pipette,  shall  be  just  sufficient  to  precipitate  1000  parts  of  silver.  This  cannot  be 
assumed  without  proof,  and  a  test  assay  is  accordingly  made  as  follows : 

"A  roll  of  silver,  known  to  be  of  absolute  purity,  is  kept  from  year  to  year  in  an 
envelope,  under  the  seal  of  the  Chairman  of  the  Assay  Commissioners.  This  being 
opened  in  their  presence,  a  portion  of  the  silver  is  taken,  and  1004  parts  carefully 
weighed  off,  and  submitted  to  the  process  of  assay  described  above.  If  the  salt  water 
used  be  of  the  exact  standard,  it  is  evident  that  as  the  solution  in  the  larger  pipette 
will  precipitate  1000  parts  of  silver,  four  measures  of  the  decimal  solution  will  be 
required  to  precipitate  the  remaining  four  parts. 

But  as  the  normal  or  standard  solution  is  affected,  from  day  to  day,  by  changes  of 
temperature  or  other  influences,  the  finishing  decimal  doses  may  be  more  or  fewer; 
and  the  other  assays  are  to  be  corrected  by  the  proof-piece  accordingly. 

20 


154 


UNITED    STATES. 


Calculation  of  Fineness. 


"By  the  assay,  thus  corrected,  the  number  of  parts  of  silver  contained  in  1115  of 
the  metal  under  trial,  is  ascertained ;  and  the  fineness,  in  thousandths,  is  then  found 
by  the  proportion :  As  1115  is  to  the  number  of  parts  of  fine  silver,  so  is  1000  to  the 
fineness  of  the  alloyed  silver,  in  thousandths. 

"Thus,  if  the  assay  show  the  presence  of  1005i  parts  of  fine  silver,  the  fineness  of 
the  alloyed  silver  will  be  901.8  thousandths,  as  found  by  the  proportion, — 

1115  :  1005.5  :  :  1000  :  901.79. 

"  It  is  on  this  principle  that  the  following  table  is  constructed.  The  numbers  at  the 
top  and  the  fractions  at  the  side  correspond  to  the  measures  of  the  decimal  solution 
used,  corrected  by  the  test  assay.  The  numbers  in  the  body  of  the  table  show  the 
corresponding  fineness  of  the  assay-piece,  of  which  the  weight  was  1115  parts. 


0 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

0 

896.9 

897.7 

898.6 

899.6 

900.4 

901.3 

902.2 

}■ 

897.1 

898.0 

898.9 

899.8 

900.7 

901.6 

902.5 

i 

897.3 

898.2 

899.1 

900.0 

900.9 

901.8 

902.7 

i 

897.5 

898.4 

899.3 

900.2 

901.1 

902.0 

902.9 

"  In  the  testing  of  single  pieces,  it  is  to  be  expected  that  any  gold  coin,  or  a  cut 
from  any  part  thereof,  will  conform  faithfully  to  the  bounds  prescribed  by  law.  But 
the  silver  coins,  in  addition  to  the  source  of  error  already  pointed  out  (the  manner  of 
taking  assay  samples),  are  somewhat  liable  to  show  too  high  a  result,  from  several 
causes.  At  certain  grades  of  alloy,  and  especially  the  standard  of  900,  the  gradual 
cooling  of  ingots  will  draw  the  better  metal  to  the  interior,  and  the  worst  towards  the 
exterior  and  the  edges.  Hence  the  fineness  of  pieces  cut  ofi"  the  central  part  of  the 
ingot  is  higher  than  the  average  fineness  of  the  ingot.  Again,  in  casting  ingots  from 
a  melting  pot,  the  exposure  of  the  metal  to  the  air  during  all  the  time  of  dipping  out, 
and  at  the  same  time,  the  increase  of  heat  toward  the  bottom  of  the  pot,  unavoidably 
produces  a  progressive  refining,  so  that  the  lower  ingot  is  of  a  higher  quality  than  the 
average  of  the  whole  melt;  and,  of  course,  a  coin  cut  from  it  will  be  higher  still.  Yet 
with  the  precautions  observed,  our  silver  coins  should  very  rarely  exceed  the  superior 
limit  assigned  by  law ;  and  there  is  no  good  reason  why  they  should  fall  below  the 
legal  limit,  unless  it  be  the  taking  of  an  unfair  sample  for  assay." 


UNITED    STATES.  155 


GOLD    COINAGE. 


The  data  relative  to  our  gold  coinage,  owing  to  the  want  of  proper  Mint  records, 
and  the  great  scarcity  of  the  earlier  emissions,  is  so  limited,  as  to  render  impracticable 
a  particular  detail  of  the  types  and  varieties.  We  must,  therefore,  content  ourselves 
with  giving  the  different  types  and  such  varieties  as  have  come  under  our  observation. 

The  early  gold  coinage  of  our  government  has  become  very  scarce,  and  hence  is 
exceedingly  rare,  being  found  more  frequently  in  the  southern  than  in  the  northern 
part  of  our  Union. 

The  first  coinage  of  gold  occurred  in  June,  1795,  in  the  form  of  eagles  and  half- 
eagles,  and  the  fineness  was  916.7  thousandths. 

Eagle. 

Device. — A  female  head — the  Goddess  of  Liberty — wearing  the  liberty-cap,  and 

the  hair  flowing  loosely.     Around  the  edge  of  the  field  are  fifteen  six-        1795. 
pointed  stars — five  on  the  right,  and  ten  on  the  left  of  the  same. 
Legend.— UBEKTY. 
Exergue. — 1795. 
Reverse. — The  American  Eagle  with  expanded  wings,  holding  in  its  beak  a  laurel  chaplet, 

and  in  the  talons  a  palm-branch. 
Legend.— JmiUmy  STATES  OF  AMERICA. 

(Size  9.     See  Plate  XIV.,  Figure  1.) 

Of  this  emission  we  have  met  with  but  one  type  and  three  varieties ;  number  coined 
was  2795,  and  the  weight  270  grains. 

Half-Eagle. 

The  designs  the  same,  weight  135  grains.     Of  this  coin  there  were  one  type 
and  three  varieties,  and  the  number  coined  was  8707.     They  are  scarcer  and     1795. 
rarer  than  the  eagles.      (Size  6i.     See  Plate  XIV.,  Figure  2.) 

Eagle. 

The  designs  the  same  as  the  preceding  with  the  addition  of  another  star, 
emblematic  of  the  admission  of  Tennessee  into  the  Union.     This  system  of  the     1796. 
adornment  of  our  coinage  was  commenced  —  as  will  be  subsequently  noted  — 
not  only  upon  the  gold,  but  the  silver  and  copper,  but  afterwards  abandoned.     We 
think  the  adding  of  such  a  symbol,  upon  the  admission  of  a  State,  as  an  expressive 

\ 


156  UNITED    STATES. 

and  beautiful  idea;  and  we  cannot  but  regret  that  it  was  not  continued.  Of  this 
emission  there  were  one  type  and  two  varieties,  and  the  number  coined  was  6934. 
They  are  extremely  rare. 

Half-Eagle. 

The  designs  the  same,  with  one  type  and  two  varieties ;  and  the  number 
1796.  coined  was  6196.  Equally  rare  with  the  preceding.  One  of  the  varieties 
bears  the  effigy  of  a  well-formed  and  very  pretty  face,  which  has  been  denomi- 
nated the  Martha  Washington.  It  has  been  stated  that  she  sat  to  the  artist  for  this 
portrait.  Whether  true  or  not,  the  declaration  has  been  sufficient  to  impress  its  credi- 
bility upon  the  imagination  of  some  one,  for  the  piece — based  upon  this  idea — has  been 
lately  sold  for  the  sum  of  ten  doUers.  If  there  is  any  foundation  for  this  statement, 
we  must  conclude  that  the  artist's  admiration  of  the  lady's  beauty  overcame  all  scruples 
relative  to  the  propriety  of  the  act;  and  if  he  had  but  chronicled  the  fact,  he  might 
himself  have  been  included  in  the  charmed  circle  of  the  immortalized. 

Quarter-Eagle. 

This  denomination  made  its  first  appearance  this  year.     There  were  two  types 

1796.  and  three  varieties,  and  the  number  coined  was  963. 

The  designs  the  same  as  the  preceding  denominations,  in  what  we  designate 
as  the  first  type ;  but  in  the  second  the  stars  are  left  off  the  obverse,  and  the  eagle 
on  the  reverse  is  entirely  changed,  the  wings  being  partially  expanded ;  on  the  breast 
a  heart-shaped  shield ;  in  its  beak  a  scroll  with  the  motto  E.  PLURTBUS  UNUM; 
over  the  head  of  the  Eagle,  clouds  and  sixteen  six-pointed  stars,  in  one  talon  a  bundle 
of  barbed  arrows,  and  in  the  other  a  laurel  branch. 

Legend.— VISITED  STATES  OF  AMERICA. 
Of  the  first  type  very  few  were  issued,  and  the  number  of  the  second  being  small, 
they  may  both  be  said  to  be  extremely  rare.      (Size  5.     See  Plate  XIV.,  Figure  5.) 

Eagle. 

The  device  the  same  as  this  denomination  of  the  preceding  year,  the  number 

1797.  of  stars  on  the  obverse  being  sixteen,  ten  on  the  left  hand,  and  six  on  the  right 
of  the  effigy. 

Reverse. — The  Eagle  changed — the  wings  partially  expanded ;  on  the  breast  a  heart-shaped 
shield;  in  its  beak  a  scroll  with  the  motto  E.  PLUREBUS  UNTJM;  over  the 
head  of  the  Eagle,  clouds  and  thirteen  six-pointed  stars;  one  talon  grasps  a 
bundle  of  barbed  arrows,  and  the  other  a  laurel  branch. 

Legend.— JJ^m^J)  STATES  OF  AMERICA. 

(Size  7.     See  Plate  XIV.,  Figure  4.) 


UNITED    STATES.  157 

Of  this  emission  we  have  met  with  but  one  type  and  three  varieties,  and  the  number 
coined  was  8323.  They  are  more  numerous  than  any  of  the  previous  issues  of  this 
denomination,  but  cannot  be  said  to  be  easily  obtained.  It  has  been  stated  that  there 
was  an  issue  of  this  year  with  but  fifteen  stars  on  the  obverse ;  we  can  only  say,  that 
in  our  extensive  researches  we  have  not  been  fortunate  enough  to  meet  with  it,  and 
hence  we  cannot  accede  to  the  correctness  of  the  statement. 

Half-Eagle. 

The  designs  the  same  as  this  denomination  in  the  preceding  year.     There 
were  of  this  issue  one  type  and  two  varieties,  and  the  number  coined  was  3609.     1797. 
They  are  now  quite  rare. 

Quarter-Eagle. 

The  designs  the  same  as  the  preceding,  with  one  type  and  two  varieties,  and 
the  number  coined  was  855.     They  are  seldom  met  with,  except  in  cabinet     1797. 
collections,  and  hence  are  extremely  rare.  . 

Eagle. 

The  designs  the  same  as  the  preceding  of  this  denomination,  except  that  the 
number  of  stars  is  reduced  from  sixteen  to  thirteen  on  the  obverse  —  seven  on     1798. 
the  left,  and  six  at  the  right  of  the  effigy.     Of  this  issue  there  were  one  type 
and  three  varieties,  and  the  number  coined  was  7974.     They  are  quite  scarce. 
^  (Size  7.     See  Plate  XIV.,  Figure  3.) 

Half-Eagle. 

The  designs  the  same,  with  one  type  and  three  varieties,  and  the  number 
coined  was  24,867.     Notwithstanding  the  comparatively  large  number  coined,     1798. 
they  are  scarce.  . 

Quarter-Eagle. 

The  designs  the  same,  with  one  type  and  two  varieties,  and  the  number 
coined  was  614.     They  are,  of  course,  extremely  rare.  1798. 

Eagle. 

The  designs  the  same,  with  the  exception  of  the  arrangement  of  the  stars  on 
the  obverse — eight  on  the  left,  and  five  on  the  right  of  the  effigy.    There  were     1799. 
of  this  issue  one  type  and  three  varieties,  and  the  number  coined  was  17,483. 
One  variety  has  fourteen  stars  on  the  reA'^erse,  evidently  an  error.     This  emission  is 

i 


158  UNITED    STATES. 

more  plenty  than  any  of  the  same  denomination  for  previous  years,  and  yet  they  may 
be  considered  scarce. 

Half-Eagle. 

1799.         The  designs  the  same  as  the  preceding,  with  one  type  and  two  varieties,  and 
the  number  coined  was  7451.     They  are  not  numerous  at  this  time. 

Quarter-Eagle. 

The  Mint  report  gives  a  coinage  of  this  denomination,  in  this  year,  of  480 

1799.  pieces.     Never  having  seen  one  of  them,  or  heard  of  any  one  who  had,  it  is 
out  of  our  power  to  furnish  either  the  designs,  types  or  varieties  of  the  same. 

Eagle. 

1800.  The  designs  the  same  as  the  preceding  of  this  denomination,  with  one  type 
and  two  varieties,  and  the  number  coined  was  25,965.    They  are  scarce. 

Half-Eagle. 

1800.  The  designs  the  same  as  the  preceding,  with  one  type  and  two  varieties,  and 
the  number  coined  was  7451.     They  are  considered  as  rare. 

Eagle, 

1801.  The  designs  the  same  as  the  preceding,  with  one  type  and  two  varieties,  and 
the  number  coined  was  29,254.     They  may  be  considered  as  scarce. 

Half-Eagle. 

Here  we  have  to  record  another  instance,  in  the  history  of  our  coinage,  in 

1801.  which  the  comparatively  large  number  of  26,006  pieces  was  coined,  as  per 
report  of  the  United  States  Mint,  and  yet  every  piece  has  escaped  the  eagle 

eyes  of  numismatologists ;  not  a  single  piece  having  been  seen  by  them,  or  other 
collectors  of  coins  of  whom  we  have  heard.  There  is  a  mystery  connected  with  it 
wholly  inexplicable  to  us.  Could  "  John  Bull"  have  gotten  that  whole  hatchj  and  con- 
signed it  to  the  melting-pot  ?     If  so,  we  shall  never  hear  of  it  more. 

Eagle. 

And  still  another  instance  in  which  the  number  of  pieces  is  given,  as  coined 

1802.  by  the  Mint,  15,090,  and  not  a  solitary  piece  to  be  seen  or  heard  of.     This 
destruction  of  links  in  our  metallic  chain  is  anything  but  agreeable. 


UNITED    STATES.  159 


Half-Eagle.  ^ 


The  designs  the  same  as  upon  the  preceding  coin  of  this  denomination,  with 
one  type  and  a  single  variety,  and  the  number  coined  was  63,176.     They  are     1802. 
more  easily  procured  than  any  of  the  others  of  this  denomination. 

Eagle. 

The  designs  the  same  as  the  last  of  this  denomination  described,  with  one 
type  and  three  varieties,  and  the  number  coined  was  8979.     They  are  con-     1803. 
sidered  as  rare. 

Half-Eagle. 

The  designs  the  same  as  the  preceding  of  this  denomination,  with  one  type 
and  three  varieties,  and  the  number  coined  was  33,506.     They  are  not  con-     1803. 
sidered  as  scarce. 

Quarter-Eagle. 

A  fourth  instance  in  which  the  Mint  report  gives  us,  as  coined,  the  number 
of  423  pieces,  not  a  solitary  one  of  which,  so  far  as  we  have  been  able  to  learn,     1803. 
has  a  place  in  any  cabinet  in  our  country  —  not  so  much  to  be  wondered  at, 
however,  as  the  coinage  was  so  small. 

Eagle. 

The  designs  the  same  as  the  preceding  of  this  denomination,  with  one  type 
and  two  varieties,  and  the  number  of  pieces  coined  was  9795.     They  are     1804. 
indeed  rare. 

This  was  the  last  of  the  emission  of  the  old-fashioned  Eagle,  whose  diameter  is  so 
remarkable,  contrasted  with  the  same  denomination  since  coined  at  our  Mint.  We 
look  upon  it  with  somewhat  of  a  feeling  of  reverence,  it  being  the  pioneer  of  that 
description  of  currency  in  our  country,  and  characterized  by  an  appearance  that 
partakes  much  of  the  times  when  our  forefathers  had  the  same  quaint  resemblance, 
but  not  the  less  allied  to  those  solid  and  substantial  qualities  so  essential  in  laying 
the  foundations  of  a  government,  which  for  enlightened  and  perfect  workmanship, 
has  ever  since  been  the  model  and  admiration  of  the  thinking  portion  of  the  human 
family. 

Half-Eagle. 

The  designs  the  same  as  the  preceding  of  this  denomination,  with  one  type 
and  three  varieties,  and  the  number  of  pieces  coined  was  30,475.     They  are     1804, 
not  plenty,  but  on  the  contrary  show  indications  of  scarcity. 


160  UNITED   STATES. 

Quarter-Eagle. 

The  designs  the  same  as  the  preceding  of  this  denomination,  with  one  type 

1804.  and  two  varieties,  and  the  number  coined  was  3327.    May  be  said  to  be  merely 
scarce. 

Half-Eagle. 

1805.  The  designs  the  same  as  the  preceding  of  this  denomination,  with  one  type 
and  two  varieties,  and  the  number  coined  was  33,183.     They  are  scarce. 

Quarter-Eagle. 

1805.  The  designs  the  same  as  the  preceding  of  this  denomination,  with  one  type 
and  one  variety,  and  the  number  coined  was  1781.     This  emission  is  rare. 

Half-Eagle. 

The  designs  the  same  as  the  preceding  of  this  denomination,  with  one  type 

1806.  and  two  varieties,  and  the  number  coined  was  6493.     It  is  not  diflBcult  to 
procure  specimens  of  this  issue. 

Half-Eagle. 

The  designs  the  same  with  the  preceding,  except  a  change  in  the  arrange- 

1807.  ment  of  the  stars  —  seven  on  the  left,  and  six  on  the  right  of  the  effigy,  with 
one  type  and  three  varieties,  and  the  number  coined  was  8493.    This  emission 

is  not  scarce. 

Quarter-Eagle. 

1807.  The  designs  the  same,  with  one  type  and  two  varieties,  and  the  number  of 
pieces  coined  was  6812.     They  are  scarce. 

Half-Eagle. 

1808.  Device. — ^A  female  head,  with  a  band  around  the  same,  bearing  the  word  LIBEKTY. 

Around  the  edges  of  the  field  thirteen  stars. 
Exergue.— imS. 

Reverse. — The  Eagle  with  the  heart-shaped  shield,  &c.,  as  on  previous  emissions ;  a 
scroll  with  E.  PLURIBUS  UNUM  inscribed  upon  it,  being  substituted 
for  the  clouds  and  stars  over  the  head  of  the  same. 
Legend.— Vl^mmy  STATES  OF  AMERICA. 

(Size  6.     See  Plate  XIV.,  Figure  18.) 


UNITED    STATES.  161 


Quarter-Eagle. 


^^ 


The  designs  the  same  as  the  above,  with  one  type  and  three  varieties,  and 
the  number  coined  was  2710.     They  are  scarce.  1808. 

(Size  4.     See  Plate  XIV.,  Figure  8.) 

Half-Eagle. 

The  designs  the  same,  with  one  type  and  one  variety,  and  the  number 
coined  was  33,875.     They  are  scarce.  1809. 

Half-Eagle. 

The  designs  the  same,  with  one  type  and  four  varieties,  and  the  number 
coined  was  100,207.     Not  scarce.  1810. 

Half-Eagle. 

The  designs  the  same,  with  one  type  and  two  varieties,  and  the  number 
coined  wa^  99,581.     Plenty.  1811. 

Half-Eagle. 

The  designs  the  same,  with  one  type  and  three  varieties,  and  the  number 
coined  was  58,087.     Becoming  scarce.  1812. 

Half-Eagle. 

The  designs  the  same,  with  one  type  and  four  varieties,  and  the  number 

coined  was  95,428.     Plenty.  1813. 

Half-Eagle. 

The  designs  the  same,  with  one  type  and  two  varieties,  and  the  number 
coined  was  15,454.     They  are  rare.  1814. 

Half-Eagle. 

The  mint  report  gives  a  coinage  of  635  pieces  for  this  year.     We  have 
never  met  with  one  of  them  —  the  designs  of  this  emission  were  undoubtedly     1815. 
the  same. 

Half-Eagle. 

The  designs  the  same — ^two  years  having  elapsed  without  any  gold  coinage — 
with  one  type  and  three  varieties,  and  the  number  coined  was  48,588.     This     1818. 
issue  is  scarce. 

Half-Eagle. 

The  designs  the  same,  with  one  type  and  three  varieties,  and  the  number 
coined  was  51,723.     They  can  be  easily  procured.  1819. 

21 


162  m.  UNITED    STATES. 

Half-Eagle. 

1820.  The  designs  the  same,  with  one  type  and  two  varieties,  and  the  number 
coined  was  263,806.     This  emission  is  quite  plenty 

Half-Eagle. 

1821.  The  designs  the  same,  with  one  type  and  two  varieties,  and  the  amount 
coined  was  34,641.     They  are  scarce. 

Quarter-Eagle. 

1821.  The  designs  the  same,  with  one  type  and  three  varieties,  and  the  number 
coined  was  6448.     They  are  rare. 

Half-Eagle. 

1822.  The  designs  the  same,  with  one  type  and  two  varieties,  and  the  number 
coined  was  17,340.     They  are  rare. 

Half-Eagle. 

1823.  The  designs  the  same,  with  one  type  and  two  varieties,  and  the  number 
coined  was  14,485.     Rare. 

Half-Eagle. 

1824.  The  designs  the  same,  with  one  type  and  three  varieties,  and  the  number 

coined  was  1734.     They  are  rare. 

■  '•■•'  '      . 

Quarter-Eagle. 

1824.  The  designs  the  same,  with  one  type  and  four  varieties,  and  the  number 
coined  was  2600.     Rare. 

Half-Eagle. 

1825.  The  designs  the  same,  with  one  type  and  three  varieties,  and  the  number 
coined  was  29,060.     Plenty. 

Quarter-Eagle. 

1825.  The  designs  the  same,  with  one  type  and  one  variety,  and  the  number 
coined  was  4434.     They  are  scarce. 

Half-Eagle. 

1826.  The  designs  the  same,  with  one  type  and  one  variety,  and  the  number 
coined  was  18,069.     Scarce. 


UNITED    STATES.  163 

Quarteb-Eagle.  -^ 

The  designs  the  same,  with  one  type  and  two  varieties,  and  the  number 
coined  was  760.     Very  rare.  1826. 

Half-Eagle. 

The  designs  the  same,  with  one  type  and  three  varieties,  and  the  number 
coined  was  24,913.     Scarce.  1827. 

Quarter-Eagle. 

The  designs  the  same,  with  one  type  and  one  variety,  and  the  number 
coined  was  2800.     Rare.  1827. 

Half-Eagle. 

The  designs  the  same,  with  One  type  and  one  variety,  and  the  number 
coined  was  28,029.     Rare.  1828. 

Half-Eagle. 

The  designs  the  same,  with  one  type  and  one  variety,  and  the  number 
coined  was  67,442.     Rare.  1829. 

Quarter-Eagle. 

The  designs  the  same,  with  one  type  and  four  varieties,  and  the  number 
coined  was  3403.     Scarce.  1829. 

Half-Eagle. 

The  designs  the  same,  with  one  type  and  two  varieties,  and  the  number 
coined  was  126,351.     Plenty.  1830. 

Quarter-Eagle. 

The  designs  the  same,  with  one  type  and  three  varieties,  and  the  number 
coined  was  4540.     Merely  scarce.  1830. 

Half-Eagle. 

The  designs  the  same,  with  one  type  and  three  varieties,  and  the  number 
coined  was  140,594.    This  issue  has  become  scarce,  notwithstanding  the  large     1831. 
number  coined. 

Quarter-Eagle. 

The  designs  the  same,  with  one  type  and  two  varieties,  and  the  number 
coined  was  4520.     Rare.  1831. 

Half-Eagle. 

The  designs  the  same,  with  one  type  and  two  varieties,  and  the  number 
coined  was  157,487.     Scarce.  1832. 


164  ,  UNITED    STATES. 

Quarter-Eagle. 

1832.  The  designs  the  same,  with  one  type  and  three  varieties,  and  the  number 
coined  was  4400.     Merely  scarce. 

•    '  ■    ■   '  *  Half-Eagle. 

The  designs  the  same,  with  one  type  and  one  variety,  and  the  number 

1833.  coined  was  193,630.    Not  plenty.    This  was  the  last  issue  bearing  the  favorite 
motto,  "E.  PLURIBUS   UNUM,"  which   was   given  up  with  much  regret, 

it  having  been  for  many  years  upon  our  coins,  and  daily  reminding  the  people  of  their 
own  unity,  as  well  as  the  unity  of  the  States. 

Quarter-Eagle. 

1833.  The  designs  the  same,  with  one  type  and  two  varieties,  and  the  number 
coined  was  4160.     Only  scarce. 

Half-Eagle. 

Device  the  same  as  on  the  obverse  of  this  denomination  of  the  preceding 

1834.  year;  the  scroll  with  the  motto,  " E.  PLURIBUS  UNUM,"  on  ih^  reverse, 
removed.     Of  this  issue  there  were   two   types   and   five  varieties,  and  the 

number  coined  was  732,169.     Notwithstanding  this  large  coinage,  they  are  scarce,  the 
first  type  being  extremely  rare. 

(Size  5 J.     See  Plate  XIV.,  Figure  9.) 

Quarter-Eagle. 

1834.  The  designs  the  same  as  the  half-eagle,  with  one  type  and  three  varieties, 
and  the  number  coined  was  117,370.     Rare. 

'  '  '  Half-Eagle. 

1835.  The  designs  the  same,  with  one  type  and  two  varieties,  and  the  number 
coined  was  371,534.     Scarce. 

Quarter-Eagle. 

1835.         The  designs  the  same,  with  one  type  and  two  varieties,  and  the  number 
coined  was  131,402.     Rare. 


UNITED    STATES.  165 

Half-Eagle.  -i 

The  designs  the  same,  with  one  type  and  three  varieties,  and  the  number 
coined  was  653,147.     Scarce.  1836. 

Quarter-Eagle. 

The  designs  the  same,  with  one  type  and  three  varieties,  and  the  number 
coined  was  547,986.     Scarce.  1836. 

Half-Eagle. 

The  designs  the  same,  with  one  type  and  two  varieties,  and  the  number  of 
pieces  coined  was  207,121.     Scarce.  1837. 

Quarter-Eagle. 

The  designs  the  same,  with  one  type  and  three  varieties,  and  the  number 

coined  was  45,080.     Rare.  1837. 

Eagle. 

Device. — ^A  female  head  —  Goddess  of  Liberty — facing  to  the  left,  the  hair  done  up 

behind,   and    bound   by    a   fillet,    upon    which    is    inscribed    the    word     1838. 
LIBERTY,  curls  falling  down  on  the  neck.    Around  the  edge  of  the  field 
thirteen  stars. 

Exergue. — 1838. 

Reverse. — The  eagle  proportionally  reduced  in  size,  otherwise  the  same  in  design  as  on  the 
half-eagle  of  1834. 

Legend.— \5^1T^T>  STATES  OF  AMERICA. 

Exergue.— HE^  D.  

(Size  7.     See  Plate  XIV.,  Figure  10.) 

Of  this  issue  there  were  one  type  and  two  varieties,  and  the  number  coined  was 

7200.     Rare.     Of  this  denomination  there  had  been  none  coined  since  1804,  a  period 

of  thirty-four  years. 

Half-Eagle. 

The  designs  the  same  as  upon  the  eagle,  with  one  type  and  one  variety,  and 
the  number  coined  was   286,588;   notwithstanding  which,  they  are   scarce.     1838. 
(Size  5.     See  Plate  XIV.,  Figure  11.) 

Quarter-Eagle. 

The  designs  the  same,  with  one  type  and  two  varieties,  and  the  number 
coined  was  47,030.     Plenty.     (Size  4.     See  Plate  XIV.,  Figure  12.)  1838. 

Eagle. 

The  designs  the  same,  with  one  type  and  two  varieties,  and  the  number 
coined  was  38,248.     Scarce.  1839. 


166  UNITED    STATES. 

Half-Eagle. 

1839.         The  designs  the  same,  with  one  type  and  three  varieties,  and  the  number 
coined  was  118,143.     Scarce. 

._      Quarter-Eagle. 

1839.  The  designs  the  same,  with  one  type  and  two  varieties,  and  the  number 
coined  was  27,021.     Scarce. 

Eagle. 

1840.  The  designs  the  same,  with  one  type  and  three  varieties,  and  the  number 
coined  was  47,338.     Scarce. 

Half-Eagle. 

1840.         The  designs  the  same,  with  one  type  and  three  varieties,  and  the  number 
coined  was  137,382.     Scarce. 

Quarter-Eagle. 

1840.  The  designs  the  same,  with  one  type  and  two  varieties,  and  the  number 
coined  was  18,859.     Scarce. 

Eagle. 

1841.  The  designs  the  same,  with  one  type  and  three  varieties,  and  the  number 
coined  was  63,031.     Scarce. 

Half-Eagle. 

1841.         The  designs  the  same,  with  one  type  and  two  varieties,  and  the  number 
coined  was  15,838.     Scarce. 

Quarter-Eagle. 

The  designs  the  same,  with  the  exception  of  the  letter  C  on  the  reverse, 

1841.  which  addition,  as  we  are  informed,  referred  to  California,  this  emission  being 
a  private  enterprise  designed  for  that  country.     There  was  one  type  and  one 

variety,  but  the  Mint  report  does  not  furnish  the  number  coined. 

Eagle. 

1842.  The  designs  the  same,  with  one  type  and  three  varieties,  and  the  number 
coined  was  81,507.     Scarce. 


UNITED    STATES.  167 

Half-Eagle.  ^ 

The  designs  the  same,  with  one  type  and  four  varieties,  and  the  number 
coined  was  27,578.     Rare.  1842. 

Quarter-Eagle. 

The  designs  the  same,  with  one  type  and  three  varieties,  and  the  number 
coined  was  2823.     This  issue  is  extremely  rare.  1842. 

Eagle. 

The  designs  the  same,  with  one  type  and  two  varieties,  and  the  number 
coined  was  250,624.     Not  scarce.  1843. 

Half-Eagle. 

The  designs  the  same,  with  one  type  and  two  varieties,  and  the  number 
coined  was  855,085.     Not  scarce.  1843* 

Quarter-Eagle. 

The  designs  the  same,  with  one  type  and  two  varieties,  and  the  number 
coined  was  530,853.     Not  scarce.  1843. 

Eagle. 

The  designs  the  same,  with  one  type  and  two  varieties,  and  the  number 
coined  was  125,061.     Scarce.  1844. 

Half-Eagle. 

The  designs  the  same,  with  one  type  and  three  varieties,  and  the  number 
coined  was  817,583.     Scarce,  though  the  emission  was  large.  1844. 

Quarter-Eagle. 

The  designs  the  same,  with  one  type  and  two  varieties,  and  the  number 
coined  was  35,738.     They  are  rare.  1844. 

Eagle. 

The  designs  the  same,  with  one  type  and  two  varieties,  and  the  number 
coined  was  73,653.     Scarce.  1845. 

Half-Eagle. 

The  designs  the  same,  with  one  type  and  three  varieties,  and  the  number 
coined  was  548,728.     They  are  plenty.  1845. 


168  UNITED    STATES. 

Quarter-Eagle. 

1845.  The  designs  the  same,  with  one  type  and  three  varieties,  and  the  number 
coined  was  110,611.     They  are  scarce. 

Eagle. 

1846.  The  designs  the  same,  with  one  type  and  two  varieties,  and  the  number 
coined  was  101,875.     Not  scarce. 

Half-Eagle. 

1846.         The  designs  the  same,  with  one  type  and  two  varieties,  and  the  number 
coined  was  547,231.     Not  scarce. 

Quarter-Eagle. 

1846.  The  designs  the  same,  with  one  type   and   one  variety,  and  the  number 
coined  was  110,709.     They  are  rare. 

Eagle. 

1847.  The  designs  the  same,  with  one  type  and  three  varieties,  and  the  number 
coined  was  1,433,764.     They  are  plenty. 

Half-Eagle. 

The  designs  the  same,  with  one  type  and  three  varieties,  and  the  number 
1847.     coined  was  1,080,337.     Notwithstanding  the  large  amount  coined,  they  are 
getting  to  be  scarce. 

Quarter-Eagle. 

1847.  The  designs  the  same,  with  one  type  and  two  varieties,  and  the  number 
coined  was  192,824.     Scarce. 

Eagle. 

The  designs  the  same,  with  one  type  and  three  varieties,  and  the  number 

1848.  coined  was  145,484.    Notwithstanding  the  comparatively  limited  amount,  they 
are  not  scarce. 

Half-Eagle. 

1848.         The  designs  the  same,  with  one  type  and  two  varieties,  and  the  number 
coined  was  267,775.     They  are  becoming  scarce. 


UNITED    STATES.  169 


Quarter-Eagle. 


^-a 


The  designs  the  same,  with  one  type  and  two  varieties,  and  the  number 
coined  was  8886.     They  are  quite  scarce.  ^  1848. 

Double-Eagle. 

Device. — A  bust  of  the  Goddess  of  Liberty  facing  left ;  the  hair  done  up  behind  the 

head,  and  falling  in  curls ;  around  the  same  a  fillet  on  which  is  the  motto     1849. 
LIBERTY ;  and  around  the  edge  of  the  field  thirteen  stars. 
Exergue. — 1849. 

Reverse. — ^An  eagle  with  expanded  wings ;  on  the  breast  of  the  same  a  shield ;  on  a  scroll, 
pendent  from  the  beak  of  the  eagle  and  passing  round  the  shield,  is  the  motto 
"E  PLIJRIBUS  UNUM ;"  above  the  head  of  the  Eagle  is  an  oval  circle  formed 
by  thirteen  stars,  and  surmounted  by  a  blaze ;  in  the  talons  the  olive-branch  and 
arrows. 
Legend.— imiT^J)  STATES  OF  AMERICA. 
Exergue.— TW^^TY  DOLLARS. 

(Size  9.     See  Plate  XIV.,  Figure  6.)     , 

The  first  coinage  of  this  piece  occurred  in  this  year,  an  evidence  of  expansion  of 
ideas  in  relation  to  our  currency ;  it  being,  however,  induced  by  the  development  of, 
and  accessions  from  the  gold  deposits  of  California,  and  consequent  upon  the  increase 
of  business,  which  demanded  additional  facilities  for  the  increasing  exchanges  based 
thereon. 

The  coinage  of  this  denomination,  it  will  be  observed,  was,  for  a  number  of  years, 
quite  large;  but  gold  bars,  as  soon  as  the  means  for  assaying  the  same  were  given  — 
afforded  by  the  establishment  of  the  Assay  Office  in  New  York  in  1853 — superseded 
in  a  great  measure  the  demand  for  coin  for  export,  and,  hence,  very  materially  reduced 
the  amount  coined. 

There  was  of  this  piece  one  type  and  a  single  variety,  and  the  weight  was  51 7  grains. 

Eagle. 

The  designs  the  same  as  upon  this  denomination  in  the  preceding  year,  with 
one  type  and  three  varieties,  and  the  number  coined  was  653,618.    Not  scarce.     1849. 

Half-Eagle. 

The  designs  the  same,  with  one  type  and  two  varieties,  and  the  number 
coined  was  133,070.     Scarce.  1849. 

22 


m 


170  UNITED   STATES. 

Quarter-Eagle. 

1849.         The  designs  the  same  as  the  preceding,  with  one  type  and  two  varieties,  and 
the  number  of  pieces  coined  was  23,294.     They  are  rare. 

Dollar. 

This  very  convenient  little  coin,  which  it  would  now  be  very  difficult  to 
1849.     dispense  with,  made  its  first  appearance  this  year.     The  originator  is  entitled 
to  much  credit  for  comprehending  a  very  great  convenience,  which  many,  at 
first,  were  unwilling  to  acknowledge  or  incapable  of  appreciating. 

1849.  Device. — ^A  bust  of  the  Goddess  of  Liberty,  facing  to  the  left;  a  band  around  the 

head,  bearing  the  word  LIBERTY ;  around  the  edge  of  the  field  thirteen 

six-pointed  stars. 
Reverse. — ^A  laurel  wreath  enclosing  the  inscription :  "I  DOLLAR  1849." 
Legend.— ITKLTEJ)  STATES  OF  AMERICA. 

(Size  2.     See  Plate  XIV.,  Figure  14.) 

Double-Eagle. 

The  designs  the  same  as  upon  this  denomination  of  the  preceding  year,  with 

1850.  one  type  and  two  varieties,  and  the  number  of  pieces  coined  was  1,170,261 — 
amounting  to  $23,405,220  of  a  single   denomination,  and  which    has   been 

followed,  under  the  new  state  of  affairs  —  at  this  period  of  time  being  initiated  —  by 
similar  extraordinary  results. 

Eagle. 

1850.         The  designs  the  same  as  upon  this  denomination  of  the  preceding  year,  with 
one  type  and  two  varieties,  and  the  number  coined  was  291,451.     Not  scarce. 

Half-Eagle. 

1850.         The  designs  the  same,  with  one  type  and  two  varieties,  and  the  number 
coined  was  64,491.     They  are  rare. 

Quarter-Eagle. 

1850.         The  designs  the  same,  with  one  type  and  three  varieties,  and  the  number 
coined  was  252,923.     Plenty. 

Dollar. 

The  designs  the  same  as  upon  this  denomination  of  the  preceding  year,  with 
1850.     one  type  and  three  varieties,  and  the  number  coined  was  481.953.     They  are 
scarce. 


UNITED    STATES.  171 

Double-Eagle.  ^ 

The  designs  of  this  denomination  unchanged,  with  one  type  and  four;varieties, 
and  the  number  coined  was  2,087,155.     They  are  plenty.  1851. 

Eagle. 

The  designs  the  same  as  previously  given  of  this  denomination,  with  one 
type  and  three  varieties,  and  the  number  coined  was  176,328.     Not  scarce.  1851. 

Half-Eagle. 

The  design  the  same  as  the  preceding,  with  one  type  and  four  varieties,  and 
the  number  coined  was  377,505.     Not  scarce.  1851. 

Quarter-Eagle. 

The  designs  the  same,  with  one  type  and  three  varieties,  and  the  number 
coined  was  1,372,748.     Plenty.  1851. 

Dollar. 

The  designs  unaltered,  with  one  type  and  two  varieties,  and  the  number 
coined  was  1,317,671.     Plenty.  1851. 

Double-Eagle. 

The  designs  unaltered,  with  one  type  and  four  varieties,  and  the  number 
coined  was  2,053,026.     Not  scarce.  1852. 

Eagle. 

The  designs  unaltered,  with  one  type  and  three  varieties,  and  the  number 
coined  was  263,106.     Plenty.  1852. 

Half-Eagle. 

The  designs  unaltered,  with  one  type  and  four  varieties,  and  the  number 
coined  was  573,901.     Not  scarce.  ,    1852. 

Quarter-Eagle. 

The  designs  unaltered,  with  one  type  and  two  varieties,  and  the  number 
coined  was  1,159,681.     They  are  scarce.  1852. 


172  UNITED    STATES. 

Dollar. 

1852.  The  designs  unaltered,  with  one  type  and  three  varieties,  and  the  number 
coined  was  2,045,351.     Not  scarce. 

Double-Eagle. 

1853.  The  designs  unaltered,  with  one  type  and  two  varieties,  and  the  number 
coined  was  1,261,326.     They  are  not  plenty. 

Eagle. 

1853.         The  designs  unaltered,  with  one  type  and  two  varieties,  and  the  number 
coined  was  210,253.     They  are  not  scarce. 

Half-Eagle. 

1853.         The  designs  unaltered,  with  one  type  and  two  varieties,  and  the  number 
coined  was  305,770.     Not  scarce. 

Quarter-Eagle. 

1853,  The   designs  unaltered,  with  one  type  and   one  variety,  and  the  number 
coined  was  1,404,668.     Plenty. 

Double-Eagle. 

1854.  The  designs  unaltered,  with  one  type  and  two  varieties,  and  the  number 
coined  was  757,899.     Plenty. 

Eagle. 

1854.         The  designs  unaltered,  with  one  type  and  one  variety,  and  the  number 
coined  was  54,250.     Scarce. 

Half-Eagle. 

1854.         The  designs  unaltered,  with  one  type  and  two  varieties,  and  the  number 
coined  was  160,675.     Eare. 

Three-Dollar  Piece. 

1854.        Device. — ^A  female  &^gy,  designed  to  represent  an  Indian  princess,  the  head  of  which 
is  encircled  in  feathers  in  a  band  around  the  same,  on  which  is  inscribed 
the  word  LIBERTY. 
Legend.— \J^llimy  STATES  OF  AMERICA. 
Reverse.—^  DOLLARS  1854.     Surrounded  by  a  wreath. 
(Sizes.     See  Plate  XIV.,  Figure  16.) 


UNITED    STATES.  173 

The  weight  of  this  piece  is  77|  grains,  and  it  first  made  its  appearance  in  this  year. 

As  a  coin  it  is  very  unpopular,  being  frequently  mistaken  for  a  quarter-eagle,  and 
often  counted  as  a  five-dollar  piece.  It  is  exceedingly  annoying  to  that  portion  of  the 
human  family  whose  vision  is  dependent  upon  artificial  aid,  and  we  think  its  retire- 
ment would  meet  with  the  public  approbation.  Of  this  issue  there  was  one  type  and 
a  single  variety,  and  the  amount  coined  was  138,618.     Scarce. 

Quarter-Eagle. 

The  designs  unaltered,  with  one  type  and  two  varieties,  and  the  number 
coined  was  596,258.     Plenty.  1854. 

Dollar. 

Device. — A  female  effigy,  designed  to  represent  an  Indian  princess,  the  head  of 

which  is  encircled  wdth  feathers  in  a  band  around  the  same,  on  which  is     1854. 
inscribed  the  word  LIBERTY. 

Legend.— JJ^YY^'D  STATES  OF  AMERICA. 

JReverse. — 1  DOLLAR  1854.     Surrounded  by  a  wreath. 

(Size  3,     See  Plate  XIV.,  Figure  15.) 

This,  and  the  three-dollar  piece  are  the  most  beautiful  and  artistic  coins  issued  by 
the  United  States  Mint.  Of  this  dollar  there  was  one  type  and  a  single  variety,  and 
the  number  coined  was  1,639,445.     Not  scarce. 

Double-Eagle. 

The  designs  unaltered,  with  one  type  and  two  varieties,  and  the  number 
coined  was  964,666.     Not  scarce.  1855. 

Eagle. 

The  designs  unaltered,  with  one  type  and  two  varieties,  and  the  number 
coined  was  121,701.     Not  scarce.  1855. 

Half-Eagle. 

The  designs  unaltered,  with  one  type  and  two  varieties,  and  the  number 
coined  was  117,098.     Scarce.  1855. 

Three-Dollar  Piece. 

The  designs  unaltered,  with  one  type  and  one  variety,  and  the  number 
coined  was  50,555.     Not  scarce.  1855. 


174  '  UNITED    STATES. 

Quarter-Eagle. 

1855.         The  designs  unaltered,  with  one  type  and  two  varieties,  and  the  number 
coined  was  235,480.     Not  scarce. 

Dollar. 

1855.  The  designs  unaltered,  with  one  type  and  two  varieties,  and  the  number 
coined  was  758,269.     Plenty. 

Double-Eagle. 

1856.  The  designs  unaltered,  with  one  type  and  two  varieties,  and  the  number 
coined  was  329,878.     Not  scarce. 

Eagle. 

1856.         The  designs  unaltered,  with  one  type  and  three  varieties,  and  the  amount 
coined  was  60,490.     Plenty. 

Half-Eagle. 

1856.         The  designs  unaltered,  with  one  type  and  two  varieties,  and  the  number 
coined  was  197,990.     Not  scarce. 

Three-Dollar  Piece. 

1856.         The  designs  unaltered,  with  one  type  and  one  variety,  and  the  number 
coined  was  26,010.     Scarce. 

Quarter-Eagle. 

1856.         The  designs  unaltered,  with  one  type  and  two  varieties,  and  the  number 
coined  was  384,240.     Not  scarce. 

Dollar. 

1856.  The  designs  unaltered,  with  one  type  and  two  varieties,  and  the  number 
coined  was  1,762,936.     Plenty. 

Double-Eagle. 

1857.  The  designs  unaltered,  with  one  type  and  two  varieties,  and  the  number 
coined,  up  to  June  30th,  was  98,315.     Not  scarce. 

Eagle. 

The  designs  unaltered,  with  one  type  and  one  variety,  and  the  number  coined, 
1857.     up  to  June  30th,  was  2,916.     Not  scarce. 


PLATE  XIV. 


L>'T(osejitlial  Lrth  Philaoi*-, 


176  UNITEDSTATES. 

Of  the  dollar  of  this  year,  we  have  met  with  but  one  type  and  four  varieties ; '  the 
latter  of  which  may  be  determined  by  the  variation  in  the  size  of  the  eagle,  and 
the  arrangement  and  size  of  the  leaves  in  the  wreath.  This  coin  has  become 
exceedingly  rare,  and  fair  specimens  command  a  handsome  premium. 

Half-Dollar. 

The  design  the  same  as  the  dollar,  differing  only  in  size,  which  is  nine,  and 
1794.  the  legend  on  the  edge,  which  is:  FIFTY  *  *  a  ©  d  CENTS  ***pil**D0n 
HALF  *  *  DOLLAR  *  *  d  ©  ©.  We  have  met  with  but  one  type  and  three 
varieties.  The  number  coined  we  are  unable  to  state,  though  it  must  have  been 
much  greater  than  of  the  dollar.  Though  getting  to  be  scarce,  they  command  but  a 
small  premium,  being  much  worn.     It  is  rare  to  find  perfect  specimens  in  circulation. 

(Size  9.     See  Plate  XV.,  Figure  2.) 

Half-Dime. 

The  general  design  the  same  on  this  denomination  of  coin,  and  it  was  the 

1794.  only  piece,  below  the  half-dollar,  coined  in  this  year.     We  have  seen  but  a 
limited  number  of  these  pieces,  which  are  of  one  type  and  two  varieties.    They 

are  particularly  rare,  and  hence,  a  well  preserved  specimen  is  seldom  found  out  of  the 
cabinets  of  our  oldest  collectors.     (Size  4.     See  Plate  XVI.,  Figure  6.) 

Dollar. 

Those  coined  in  this  year,  up  to  September,  were  of  the  same  design  as  of 

1795.  the  preceding  year;   but,   in  the  latter  portion  of  the  year,   the  type  was 
changed,  which  formed  two  distinct  types.     Of  the  first  of  these,  there  are 

six  varieties,  and  the  second,  four.     In  the  latter,  the  effigy  is  presented  with  a  full 

bust  adorned  with  drapery ;  the   hair  is  secured  by  a  band,  the  bow  of  which  is 

perceptible  on  the  back  of  the  head,  and  flows  gracefully  in  ringlets  below  the  lower 

part   of  the   bust.     The   edge   also   difiers   slightly   from   the   former   type   in   the 

punctuation. 

On  the  reverse  the  eagle  is  smaller,  apparently  floating  upon  clouds,  the  wings  not 

extending,  as  in  the  first  type,  beyond  the  circle  of  the  wreath.     The  number  coined 

we  cannot  give,  it  being  aggregated  with  the  preceding  year.     Not  rare,  but  good 

specimens  are  scarce. 

(Size  12.     See  Plate  XV.,  Figure  3.) 

^  Our  statements,  in  relation  to  the  number  of  varieties,  are,  in  all  cases,  based  upon  the  knowledge 
of  them,  which  we  have,  with  much  care  and  great  labor,  been  able  personally  to  acquire.  There  may  be 
varieties,  consequently,  that  have  escaped  our  notice,  or  which  have  not  come  under  our  observation,  though 
we  have  striven  to  present  them  fully. 


UNITED    STATES.  *  177 

Half-Dollar. 

The  design  the  same  as  of  this  denomination  in  the  preceding  year,  with 
one  type  and  four  varieties.     We  are  satisfied  that  the  change  of  type  of  the     1795. 
dollar  in  this  year  did  not  extend  to  the  half-dollar,  as  in  all  our  researches  we 
have  not  been  able  to  find  anything  contradicting  this  conclusion.     The  variation  on 
the  edge  is  simply  A  *  ^  before  DOLLAR. 

Half-Dime. 

The  design  the  same  as  upon  this  denomination  for  the  preceding  year, 
except  that  the  wreath  has  lost  some  of  its  leaves,  and  is  so  united  as  not  to     1795. 
display  the  means  employed.     We  have  seen  but  one  type  and  two  varieties.     They 
are  very  seldom  found  in  circulation,  and  may  be  considered  rare. 

Dollar. 

The  design  the  same  as  the  last  described  or  altered  type  of  the  same 
denomination  of  the  preceding  year,  with  one  type  and  four  varieties;  the  1796. 
latter  of  which  may  be  distinguished  by  variations  in  the  wreath  :  seven,  eight, 
and  nine  berries  on  the  laurel  portion,  and  the  leaves  also  varying  in  number  and  form. 
The  number  coined  in  this  year  was  72,920 ;  they  are  not  considered  rare,  and  may 
be  found  in  good  order.  It  is  stated  that  there  was  another  type  this  year,  formed  by 
an  additional  star.  Though  we  have  not  seen  it,  we  think  a  few  of  this  description 
may  have  been  coined  in  the  latter  part  of  the  same,  as  Tennessee  was  admitted  to 
the  Union  in  1796. 

Half-Dollar. 

The  designs  the  same,  with  one  type  and  one  variety,  and  the  number  coined 
was  3918.     They  are  rare.  1796. 

Quarter-Dollar. 

The  designs  the  same,  with  one  type  and  two  varieties,  and  the  number 
coined  was  5894.     Rare.     (Size  8.     See  Plate  XVL,  Figure  1.)  1796. 

Dimes. 

The  designs  the  same,  with  one  type  and  a  single  variety,  and  the  number 
coined  was  22,135.     They  are  scarce.     (Size  5.     See  Plate  XVI.,  Figure  18.)      1796. 

Half-Dimes. 

The  designs  the  same,  with  one  type  and  two  varieties,  and  the  number 
coined  was  10,230.     They  are  scarce.     (Size  4.     See  Plate  XVL,  Figure  9.)        1796. 
23 


178  UNITED    STATES. 

Dollar. 

The  designs  the  same  as  in  the  preceding  year,  with  three  types  and  seven 

1797.     varieties.    The  first  type  having  eight  six-pointed  stars  on  the  left  of  the  effigy, 

and  seven  on  the  right ;  the  second,  nine  on  the  left,  and  seven  on  the  right ; 

and  the  third,  ten  on  the  left ;  and  six  on  the  right,  thus  emblemizing,  in  the  last  two 

types,  the  admission  of  Tennessee  into  the  Union. 

The  varieties  may  be  distinguished  as  follows  :  In  that  which  we  designate  as  number 
one,  there  are  no  berries  below  the  lower  leaves  on  the  laurel ;  in  No.  2,  they  appear 
at  that  point  outside  of  the  wreath ;  in  No.  3  they  occur  inside  of  the  same ;  in  No.  4 
on  both  sides ;  in  No.  5  the  eagle  is  much  smaller,  and  in  Nos.  6  and  7  the  arrange- 
ment in  the  wreath  varies  in  each,  and  from  the  others.  It  is  stated  that  the  reverse 
was  changed  in  this  year,  and  a  few  trial  pieces  struck  off.  We  have  never  met  with 
them.    The  number  coined  for  1797  was  but  7776,  and  yet  they  are  not  considered  rare. 

There  were  no  half-dollars  coined  in  this  year.  The  Mint  statement  for  quarters  of 
a  dollar,  gives  the  number  coined  as  252.  They  were,  probably,  not  thrown  into 
circulation,  as  we  have  never  found  a  single  specimen. 

Dime. 

The  device  the  same  as  upon  the  other  coins  of  the  preceding  year,  with  one 
1797.  type  and  three  varieties,  and  the  number  coined  was  25,261.  For  the  first 
time  reference  is  made  to  the  "  Old  Thirteen,"  there  being  upon  it  that  number 
of  stars.  The  design  upon  the  reverse,  for  the  first  time,  also  underwent  a  change. 
The  wreath  was  abandoned ;  the  eagle  enlarged  with  its  wings  extended  upward,  on 
its  breast  a  shield,  and  holding  in  its  beak  a  scroll  upon  which  the  motto  E.  PLURIBUS 
UNUM  appears.  In  one  talon  it  grasps  a  bundle  of  arrows,  and  in  the  other  a  laurel- 
branch  ;  over  its  head  clouds,  and  under  them  sixteen  stars.  These  coins  are  now 
much  worn  and  particularly  rare. 

(Size  5.     See  Plate  XVI.,,  Figure  2.) 

Half-Dime. 

The  device  the  same  as  the  dime,  except  that  there  are  fifteen  stars,  eight 
1797.     on  the  left  of  the  effigy,  and  seven  on  the  right.     The  reverse  of  this  same 
denomination  in  1796  is  continued  on  this  coin.     There  were  one  type  and 
three  varieties,  and  the  number  coined  was  44,527.     They  are  becoming  quite  rare. 


UNITED    STATES.  179 


Dollar. 


■^ 


The  device  the  same  as  on  the  dollar  of  the  preceding  year,  except  that 
thirteen  stars  made  their  appearance  for  the  first  time  upon  the  dollar — seven     1798. 
on  the  left  of  the  effigy,  and  six  on  the  right.     In  this  year  we  find  but  one 
type  and  four  varieties,  and  the  number  coined  was  327,536.     On  the  reverse  of  this 
denomination,  for  the  first  time  there  was  a  total  change,  which  had  been  adopted  upon 
the  dime  of  1797,  and  is,  in  that  year,  fully  described  — 

Legend.— VKLTET)  STATES  OF  AMERICA. 

(Size  12.     See  Plate  XV.,  Figure  3.) 

This  emission  is  not  considered  rare. 

The  government  in  this  design  very  appropriately  acknowledged,  on  the  obverse,  the 
corner-stone — "  thirteen" — upon  which  we  were  then  building  up  this  mighty  nation  ; 
and  on  the  reverse — "sixteen" — the  progress  we  had  made  in  the  structure;  three 
stories  having  been  added  to  the  edifice  of  Constitutional  Liberty. 

Dime. 

The  designs  the  same  as  the  preceding  year,  with  one  type  and  five  varieties, 
one  of  the  latter  being  simply  a  Mint  alteration  of  the  date  1797  to  1798  —  a     1798. 
portion  of  the  seven  being  perceptible  in  the  figure  eight.    The  number  coined 
was  27,550,  and  they  are  not  considered  rare. 

Dollar. 

The  designs  the  same  as  on  the  dollar  of  the  preceding  year,  with  two  types 
and  six  varieties,  and  the  number  coined  was  423,515.  Type  No  2  is  distin-  1799. 
guished  by  eight  stars  on  the  left  of  the  effigy,  and  five  on  the  right  —  in  the 
first  type  there  being  seven  on  the  left,  and  six  on  the  right.  The  varieties  may  be 
determined  as  follows :  In  that  which  we  designate  as  No.  1,  the  laurel  is  without 
berries ;  No.  2,  one  small  berry  midway  of  the  branch ;  No.  3,  fourteen  stars,  evidently 
an  error  of  the  die-sinker,  who  attempted  to  correct  it  by  enlarging  a  portion  of  the 
clouds,  leaving  but  two  perfect  stars  on  the  left  of  the  same,  when  there  should  have 
been  three.  No.  4  has  five  berries  on  the  laurel ;  in  No.  5  the  figure  9,  on  the  obverse, 
touches  the  bust  of  the  effigy,  and  in  No.  6  there  is  one  more  leaf  on  the  laurel 
branch.     This  emission  is  neither  scarce  nor  rare. 

There  was  no  silver  coinage  in  this  year,  except  the  dollar. 


180  UNITED    STATES. 

Dollar. 

The  designs  the  same  as  the  preceding,  with  one  type  and  three  varieties. 
1800.     the  latter  of  which  can  be  determined  by  reference  to  the  reverse.    The  number 
coined  was  220,920.     This  coin  is  becoming  scarce,  and  it  is  with  difl&culty 
that  a  well  preserved  specimen  can  be  found. 

Dime. 

The  designs  the  same  as  that  of  1798,  except  that  on  the  reverse,  there  are 
1800.     thirteen,  instead  of  sixteen  stars.     The  number  coined  was  21,760.    They  are 
becoming  rare,  and  can  seldom  be  found  in  such  a  state  as  to  render  them 
desirable  for  a  cabinet. 

Half-Dime. 

The  designs  the  same  as  the  dime  of  this  year,  with  one  type  and  three 

1800.  varieties;  and  the  number  coined  was  24,000.     The  remarks  relative  to  the 
dime  will  apply  equally  to  this  coin. 

Dollar. 

The  designs  the  same  as  on  the  dollar  of  the  preceding  year,  with  one  type 

1801.  and  four  varieties,  and  the  number  coined  was  54,454.     The  high  premium 
paid  for  specimens  of  this  emission,  lately  brought  to  light,  and  into   the 

market,  a  very  considerable  number,  and  also  of  the  emissions  of  from  1795  to  1803, 
which  has  furnished  a  temporary  supply  to  collectors.  Apart  from  this,  they  were 
getting  to  be  scarce,  and  soon  must  again  be  so,  as  the  small  number  coined,  with  the 
inducement  to  bring  them  out,  has  had  the  effect,  we  think,  to  develop  the  full  supply. 

Half-Dollar. 

1801.         The  designs  the  same  as  on  the  dollar  of  this  year,  with  one  type  and  three 
varieties,  and  the  number  coined  was  30,289.    This  emission  is  becoming  scarce. 
(Size  9.      See  Plate  XV.,  Figure  4.) 

Dime. 

The  designs  the  same  as  on  the  half-dollar,  with  one  type  and  two  varieties, 
1801.     and  the  number  coined  was  34,640.     This  emission  is  scarce,  and  a  well-pre- 
served specimen  is  rarely  met  with. 


UNITED    STATES.  181 

Half-Dime.  ^ 

The  designs  the  same  as  on  the  dime,  with  one  type  and  two  varieties,  and 
the  number  coined  was  33,910.     The  remarks  made  relative  to  the  dime,     1801. 
apply  equally  to  this  coin. 

Dollar. 

The  designs  the  same  as  on  this  denomination  for  several  years,  with  one 
type  and  two  varieties,  and  the  number  coined  was  41,650.     They  are  quite     1802. 
scarce  here,  and  elsewhere  are  considered  rare. 

Half-Dollar. 

The  designs  the  same  as  on  the  dollar,  with  one  type  and  three  varieties, 
and  the  number  coined  was  29,890.     This  emission  is  becoming  rare.  1802. 

Dime. 

The  designs  the  same  as  on  the  preceding  denomination,  with  one  type  and 
three  varieties,  and  the  number  coined  was  10,975.    This  coin  is  extremely  rare.     1802. 

Half-Dime. 

The  designs  the  same  as  upon  the  dime,  with  one  type  and  two  varieties, 
and  the  number  coined  was  13,010.     They  are  considered  particularly  rare.  1802. 

Ohio  having  been  added  to  the  galaxy  of  States  that  then  formed  the  Union, 
we  could  have  reasonably  anticipated  some  acknowledgment  of  it  upon  the  coins  of 
this  year's  emission,  as  had  previously  been  the  accident  if  not  the  rule ;  but  their 
effulgence  was  not  increased  by  a  single  luminary  in  honor  of  the  event. 

Dollar. 

The  designs  the  same,  with  one  type  and  two  varieties,  and  the  number 
coined  was  66,064.     They  are  becoming  rare,  and  good  specimens  command  a     1803. 
premium. 

Half-Dollar. 

The  designs  the  same,  with  one  type  and  four  varieties,  and  the  number 
coined  was  31,715.     This  emission  is  generally  well  preserved,  but  getting  to     1803. 
be  scarce. 


182  UNITED    STATES. 

Dime. 

1803.         The  designs  the  same,  with  one  type  and  two  varieties,  and  the  number 
coined  was  33,040.     They  are  extremely  rare. 

Half-Dime. 

1803.  The  designs  the  same,  with  one  type  and  two  varietieSj  and  the  number 
coined  was  37,850.     They  may  be  considered  as  approaching  rarity. 

Dollar. 

1804.  The  designs  the  same,  with  one  type  and  but  one  variety,  and  the  number 
coined  was  19,570.     The  emission  was  small,  and  they  are  extremely  rare. 

HALF-DOLLAR. 

The  designs  the  same,  with  one  type  and  two  varieties,  and  the  number 
1804.     coined  was  156,519.     From  some  cause,  to  us  inexplicable,  they  are  quite  as 
rare  as  the  dollar  of  this  year,  with  its  very  moderate  coinage. 

Quarter-Dollar. 

The  designs  the  same,  with  one  type  and  three  varieties,  and  the  number 
1804.     coined  was  6738.     This  emission  is  barely  considered  rare,  even  with  the 
limited  amount  of  coinage,  it  being  the  third  of  this  denomination — the  previous 
issues  being  5894,  in  1796;  and  252  pieces  in  1797. 

Dime. 

1804.  The  designs  the  same,  with  one  type  and  three  varieties,  and  the  number 
coined  was  8265.     They  are  considered  to  be  particularly  rare. 

Dollar. 

The  designs  the  same  as  the  preceding  year,  and  the  Mint  report  gives  321  as 

1805.  the  number  coined.     We  have  never  met  with  a  dollar  of  this  date,  and  the 
probability  is  that,  though  coined,  none  were  issued. 

Half-Dollar. 

The  designs  the  same,  with  one  type  and  three  varieties,  and  the  number 
1805.     coined  was  211,722.     One  of  the  varieties  is  a  Mint  alteration  from  1803. 
They  are  becoming  scarce. 


UNITED    STATES.  183 

Quarter-Dollar. 


The  designs  the  same,  with  one  type  and  two  varieties,  and  the  number 
coined  was  121,394.     They  are  becoming  scarce.  _  1805. 


Dime. 

The  designs  the  same,  with  one  type  and  three  varieties,  and  the  number 
coined  was  120,780.     Not  scarce.  1805. 

Half-Dime. 

The  designs  the  same,  with  one  type  and  two  varieties,  and  the  number 
coined  was  15,000.     They  are  considered  to  be  very  rare.  1805. 

Half-Dollar. 

The  designs  the  same,  with  one  type  and  four  varieties,  and  the  number 
coined  was  839,576.     One  of  the  varieties  is  a  Mint  alteration  of  the  die  of     1806. 
1805.     Not  scarce. 

Quarter-Dollar. 

The  designs  the  same,  with  one  type  and  two  varieties,  and  the  number 
coined  was  206,124.     They  are  scarce.  1806. 

Half-Dollar. 

The  designs  the  same,  with  one  type  and  three  varieties,  and  the  number 
coined  was  1,051,676.     In  these  coins,  for  the  first  time,  the  punctuation  was     1807. 
left  off  the   edges,  leaving  plain  FIFTY  CENTS  OR  HALF  A  DOLLAR. 
They  are  not  scarce,  but  still  command  a  small  premium. 

Quarter-Dollar. 

The  designs  the  same,  with  one  type  and  two  varieties,  and  the  number 
coined  was  220,643.     They  are  plenty.  1807. 


184  UNITED    STATES. 

Half-Dollar. 

1808.         Device. — A  female  bust —  Goddess  of  Liberty  —  the  head  dressed  with  a  turban  — 

the  fashion  of  the  time  —  around  which  is  a  fillet,  on  which  is  inscribed 

the  word  LIBERTY;  the  hair  flowing  in  ringlets  below  the  bust;  thirteen 

stars  —  seven  on  the  right,  and  six  on  the  left  of  the  effigy. 

Exergue. — 1808. 

Reverse. — An  eagle,  new  in  design,  over  the  head  of  which,  removed  for  the  first 

time  from  the  beak  of  the  same,  is  a  scroll  inscribed  "  E.  PLURIBUS 

UNUM  ;"  a  shield  on  the  breast;  in  the  right  talon  three  barbed  arrows, 

and  in  the  left,  a  laurel  branch. 

Legend.— V^mmy  STATES  OF  AMERICA.  ^ 

Exergue. — 50  c.  /    ' 

(Size  9.     See  Plate  XV.,  Figure/) 

Of  this  emission,  we  have  found  one  type  and  three  varieties,  and  the  number 
coined  was  1,368,600.     Good  specimens  can  be  procured  at  this  time. 

Half-Dollar. 

In  this  series  of  years  —  the  designs  the  same  as  on  the  preceding  — 
1809-1814.  there  was  but  one  type  of  each,  and  the  variations  on  the  reverse  are  so 
slight,  that  we  do  not  deem  it  essential  to  designate  varieties.  The 
number  coined  in  these  years  was,  in  the  aggregate,  7,794,767.  The  emissions  of  the 
years  1811  and  1814  are  scarce;  of  the  other  years  specified,  they  are  easily  procured, 
in  a  fine  state  of  preservation,  at  the  ordinary  commercial  premium. 

Dimes. 

Were  the  same  in  the  designs  as  the  half-dollar  above.  The  emission 
1809-1814  of  1809  had  one  type  and  three  varieties,  and  the  number  coined  was 
44,710.  They  are  scarce.  Of  1810,  there  were  one  type  and  three 
varieties,  and  the  number  coined  was  6355.  Very  scarce.  Of  1811,  one  type  and  two 
varieties,  and  the  number  coined  was  65,180.  They  have  become,  notwithstanding 
the  respectable  number,  extremely  scarce.  Of  1814,  one  type  and  two  varieties,  and 
the  number  coined  was  421,500,  and  though  the  emission  was  unusually  large,  they 
are  becoming  scarce.     (Size  5.     See  Plate  XVI.,  Figure  5.) 

Half-Dollar. 

The  designs  the  same,  with  one  type  and  two  varieties.     The  Mint  report 

1815.     does  not  acknowledge  the  coinage  of  this  year,  hence  we  are  unable  to  give  the 

number  coined.     Most  cabinets  of  note  contain  them.     The  amount  may  have 


UNITED    STATES.  186 

been  small,  but  we  have  cited  proof  of  their  emission.     The^f  are  rare,  and  command 
a  good  premium. 

Quarter-Dollar. 

The  designs  the  same  as  upon  the  preceding  denomination,  with  one  type 
and  three  varieties,  and  the  number  coined  was  69,232 — there  having  been     1815. 
no  emission  of  this  denomination  of  coin  since  1807.    They  are  easily  obtained. 

(Size  7.     See  Plate  XVI.,  Figure  4.) 

Half-Dollar. 

The  designs  the  same,  with  one  type  and  one  variety,  and  the  number 
coined  was  1,215,567.    This  was  the  only  coinage  of  silver  in  this  year.    Rare.     1817. 

Half-Dollar. 

The  designs  the  same,  with  one  type  and   four  varieties,  and  the  number 
coined  was  1,960,322.     Scarce.  1818. 

Quarter-Dollar. 

The  designs  the  same,  with  one  type  and  three  varieties,  and  the  number 
coined  was  361,174.     No  coinage  but  hrilves  and  quarters  this  year.     Scarce.       1818. 

Half-Dollar. 

The  designs  the  same,  with  one  type  and  four  varieties,  and  the  number 
coined  was  2,208,000.     They  are  quite  plenty.  1819. 

Quarter- Dollar, 

The  designs  the  same,  with  one  type  and  four  varieties,  and  the  number 
coined  was  144,000.     They  are  scarce.     The  silver  coinage  confined  to  halves     1819. 
and  quarters  in  this  year. 

Half-Dollar. 

The  designs  the  same,  with  one  type  and  three  varieties,  and  the  number 
coined  was  751,122.     They  are  scarce.  1820. 

Quarter-Dollar. 

The  designs  the  same,  with  one  type  and  four  varieties,  and  the  number 
coined  was  127.444.     They  are  plenty.  1820. 

24 


186  UNITED   STATES. 

Dime. 

1820.  The  designs  the  same,  with  one  type  and  three  varieties,  and  the  number 
coined  was  942  587.    Notwithstanding  the  large  coinage,  they  are  quite  scarce. 

Half-Dollar. 

1821.  The  designs  the  same,  with  one  type  and  two  varieties,  and  the  number 
coined  was  1,305,797.     Not  scarce. 

Quarter-Dollar. 

1821.         The  designs  the  same,  with  one  type  and  four  varieties,  and  the  number 
coined  was  216,851.     Not  scarce. 

Dime. 

1821.  The  designs  the  same,  with  one  type  and  three  varieties,  and  the  number 
coined  was  1,186,512.     This  issue  is  quite  plenty. 

Half-Dollar. 

1822.  The  designs  the  same,  with  one  type  and  three  varieties,  and  the  number 
coined  was  559,573.     They  are  plenty. 

Quarter-Dollar. 

1822.         The  designs  unaltered,  with  one  type  and  one  variety,  and  the  number 
coined  was  64,080.     Scarce. 

Dime. 

1822.  The  designs  unchanged,  with  one  type  and  two  varieties,  and  the  number 
coined  was  100,000.     Rare 

Half-Dollar. 

1823.  The  designs  unchanged,  with  one  type  and  two  varieties,  and  the  number 
coined  was  1,694,200.     Not  scarce. 

Quarter-Dollar. 

1823.         The  designs  unchanged,  with  one  type  and  two  varieties,  and  the  number 
coined  was  17,800.     They  are  extremely  rare. 


PLATE  XV. 


L  X  J^.-^iiil'uil  hrih.J-'liilacli. 


UNITED    STATES.  187 


Dime. 


■^■ 


The  designs  unchanged,  with  one  type  and  one  variety,  and  the  number 
coined  was  440,000.     Scarce.  1823. 

Half-dollar. 

The  designs  unchanged,  with  one  type  and  two  varieties,  and  the  number 
coined  was  3,504,954.     According  to  the  Mint  report,  this  was  the  only  silver     1824. 
coinage  minted  in  this  year;  which  is  clearly  an  error,  as  we  have  in  our 
collection  two  other  denominations  —  the  quarter  of  a  dollar  and  dime — which  follow. 

Quarter-Dollar. 

The  designs  unchanged,  with  one  type  and  two  varieties,  the  number  coined 

of  which  we  are,  for  the  reasons  previously  stated,  unable  to  give.     They     1824. 

are  rare. 

Dime. 

The  designs  unchanged,  with  one  type  and  two  varieties,  and  the  number 
coined,  as  with  the  preceding  denomination,  and   for   the   same  reasons,  is     1824. 
unknown.     Scarce. 

HALF-DOLLAR. 

The  designs  unchanged,  with  one  type  and  two  varieties,  and  the  number 
coined  was  2,943,166.     Not  scarce.  1825. 

Quarter-Dollar; 

The  designs  unchanged,  with  one  type  and  three  varieties,  and  the  number 
coined  was  168,000.     Scarce.  1825. 

Dime. 

The  designs  unchanged,  with  one  type  and  two  varieties,  and  the  number 
coined  was  510,000.     Not  scarce.  1825. 

Half-Dollar. 

The  designs  unchanged,  with  one  type  and  three  varieties,  and  the  number 
coined  was  4,004,180.     This  was  the  only  denomination  of  silver  minted  in     1826. 
this  year,  and  it  is  plenty. 

Half-Dollar. 

The  designs  unchanged,  with  one  type  and  three  varieties,  and  the  number 
coined  was  5,493,400.     Plenty.  1827. 


188  UNITED    STATES. 

Quarter-Dollar. 

1827.         The  designs  unchanged,  with  one  type  and  two  varieties,  and  the  number 
coined  was  4,000.     They  are  extremely  rare. 

Dime. 

1827.  The  designs  unchanged,  with  one  type  and  two  varieties,  and  the  number 
coined  was  1,215,000.     Plenty. 

Half-Dollar. 

1828.  The  designs  unchanged,  with  one  type  and  three  varieties,  and  the  number 
coined  was  3,075,200.     Plenty. 

Quarter-Dollar. 

1828.         The  designs  unchanged,  with  one  type  and  two  varieties,  and  the  number 
coined  was  102,000.     Not  scarce. 

Dime. 

1828.  The  designs  unchanged,  with  one  type  and  two  varieties,  and  the  number 
coined  was  125,000.     Plenty. 

Half-Dollar. 

The  designs  unchanged,  with  one  type  and  two  varieties,  and  the  number 

1829.  coined  was  3,712,156.     Plenty.     There  were  no  quarters  of  a  dollar  minted 
in  this  year. 

Dime. 

1829.         The  designs  unchanged,  with  one  type  and  two  varieties,  and  the  number 
coined  was  770,000.     Not  scarce. 

Half-Dime. 

1829.  The  designs  the  same  of  the  above,  with  one  type  and  two  varieties,  and 
the  number  coined  was  1,230,000.     Plenty. 

Half-Dollar. 

1830.  The  designs  unchanged,  with  one  type  and  two  varieties,  and  the  number 
coined  was  4,764,800.     Plenty. 


UNITED    STATES.  189 

Dime.  ^ 

The  designs  unchanged,  with  one  type  and  three  varieties,  and  the  number 
coined  was  510,000.     Scarce.  1830. 

Half-Dime. 

The  designs  unchanged,  with  one  type  and  two  varieties,  and  the  number 
coined  was  1,240,000.     Plenty.  1830. 

Half-Dollar, 

The  designs  unchanged,  with  one  type  and  four  varieties,  and  the  number 
coined  was  5,873,660.     Scarce.     Here,  for  the  first  time,  a  milling  of  parallel     1831. 
lines  was  executed  between  the  letters  of  the  legend  on  the  edge  of  the  coin. 

Quarter-Dollar. 

The   obverse   the   same   as  on  the   previous   denominations   of  this   coin 
since  1808.  1831. 

Exergue. — 1831. 

Reverse.— The.  eagle  reduced  in  size,  and  the  motto,  E.  PLURXBUS  ITNTrM,  left  oif. 

Legend.— U^IT^J)  STATES  OF  AMERICA. 

Exergue.— (^AR.  DOL. 

(Size  6.     See  Plate  XVI.,  Figure  7.) 

Of  this  emission,  there  were  one  type  and  three  varieties,  and  the  number  coined 

was  398,000.     Scarce. 

Dime. 

The  designs  unchanged,  with  one  type  and  two  varieties,  and  the  number 
coined  was  771,350.     Plenty.  1831. 

Half-Dime. 

The  designs  unchanged,  with  one  type  and  two  varieties,  and  the  number 
coined  was  1,242,700.     Not  scarce.      ^  ,  1831. 

Half-Dollar. 

The  designs  unchanged,  with  one  type  and  two  varieties,  and  the  number 
coined  was  797,000.     Not  scarce.  1832. 

Quarter-Dollar. 

The  designs  the  same  as  on  this  denomination  of  the  previous  year,  with  one 
type  and  one  variety,  and  the  number  coined  was  320,000.     They  are  rare.  1832. 


190        '  UNITED    STATES. 

Dime. 

1832.         The  designs  unchanged,  with  one  tjpe  and  three  varieties,  and  the  number 
coined  was  522,500. 

Half-Dime. 

1832.  The  designs  unchanged,  with  one  type  and  two  varieties,  and  the  number 
coined  was  965,000.     Scarce. 

Half-Dollar. 

1833.  The  designs  unchanged,  with  one  type  and  three  varieties,  and  the  number 
coined  was  5,206,000.     Plenty. 

Quarter-Dollar. 

1833.         The  designs  unchanged,  with  one  type  and  one  variety,  and  the  number 
coined  was  156,000.     Scarce. 

Dime. 

1833.         The  designs  unchanged,  with  one  type  and  two  varieties,  and  the  number 
coined  was  485,000.     Not  scarce. 

Half-Dime. 

1833.  The  designs  unchanged,  with  one  type  and  two  varieties,  and  the  number 
coined  was  1.370,000.     Plenty. 

HALF-DOLLAR. 

1834.  The  designs  unchanged,  with  one  type  and  four  varieties,  and  the  number 
coined  was  6,412,004.     Plenty. 

Quarter-Dollar. 

1834.         The  designs  unaltered,  with  one  type  and  three  varieties,  and  the  number 
coined  was  286,000.     Plenty. 

Dime. 

1834.         The  designs  unaltered,  with  one  type  and  one  variety,  and  the  number  coined 
was  635,000.     Plenty. 


UNITED    STATES.  191 

■■^ 
Half-Dime. 

The  designs  unchanged,  with  one  type  and  two  varieties,  and  the  number 
coined  was  1,480,000.     Plenty.  1834. 

HALF-DOLLAR. 

The  designs  unaltered,  with  one  type   and  three  varieties,  and  the  number 
coined  was  5,352,006.     Not  scarce.  1835. 

Quarter-Dollar. 

The  designs  unchanged,  with  one  type  and  four  varieties,  a«d  the  number 
coined  was  1,952,000.     Not  scarce.  1835. 

Dime. 

The  designs  unchanged,  with  one  type  and  two  varieties,  and  the  number 
coined  was  1,410,000.     Plenty.  1835. 

Dollar. 

J)eviee. — The  Goddess  of  Liberty  seated,  supporting  with  her  right  hand  a  heart- 
shaped  shield,  on  which,  in  a  scroll,  is  the  motto  LIBERTY ;  and  with  the     1836. 
left  the  liberty-pole,  surmounted  by  the  cap. 
Exergue. — 1836. 
Reverse. — An  eagle,  volant,  in  the  centre  of  the  field,  over  which  is  twenty-six  large  and 

small  six-pointed  stars. 
Legend.— U:^lTm)  STATES  OF  AMERICA. 
Uxergue.—OKE.  DOLLAR. 

(Size  12.     See  Plate  XVI.,  Figure  19.) 

This  piece  was  gotten  up  by  Mr.  Christian  Gobrecht,  a  native  Pennsylvanian,  who 
was  at  that  time  chief  engraver  of  the  Mint.  It  was  not,  however,  adopted,  and 
hence  may  be  considered  a  pattern-piece,  of  which  one  thousand  were  struck  off.  They 
are  extremely  rare  and  command  a  large  premium.  We  observe  twenty-six  stars  on 
the  reverse,  which,  as  emblems  or  ornaments,  are  unmeaning — Arkansas  being  admitted 
into  the  Union  this  year,  and  making  but  twenty-five  States.  In  the  succeeding  year, 
1837,  Michigan  came  in,  which  would  have  completed  the  galaxy  of  the  artist.  Per- 
haps the  error  may  have  been  fatal  to  its  approval. 


192  UNITED    STATES. 

Half-Dollar. 

1836.         The  designs  unchanged,  with  one  type  and  three  varieties,  and  the  number 
coined  was  6,546,200.     Not  scarce. 

Quarter-Dollar. 

1836.         The  designs  unchanged,  with  one  type  and  one  variety,  and  the  number 
coined  was  472,000.     Scarce. 

Dime. 

1836.         The  designs  unchanged,  with  one  type  and  four  varieties,  and  the  number 
coined  was  1,190,000.     Plenty. 

Half-Dime. 

1836.  The  designs  unchanged,  with  one  type  and  four  varieties,  and  the  number 
coined  was  1,900,000.     Plenty. 

Half-Dollar. 

The  change  made  upon  the  quarter  of  a  dollar  in  1831,  was  adopted  this 

1837.  year  upon  this  denomination  —  the   effigy  upon    the   obverse  being  slightly 
reduced  in  size;  the  stars  decreased  in  magnitude  one-third  —  and  six  of  the 

thirteen  placed  on  the  left  hand  of  the  effigy  instead  of  seven,  as  in  the  former  type ; 
the  legend  disappears  entirely  from  the  edge,  which  is  substituted  by  graining. 

On"  the  reverse  the  eagle  of  diminished  size,  and  the  scroll  with  E.  PLURIBUS 
IJNUM  dispensed  with. 

(Size  9.     See  Plate  XV.,  Figure  8.) 

Quarter-Dollar. 

1837.         The  designs  unchanged,  with  one  type  and  four  varieties,  and  tlie  number 
coined  was  252,400.     Scarce. 

Dime. 

1837.        Device. — The  Goddess  of  Liberty  seated,  supporting  with  her  right  hand  a  heart- 
shaped  shield,  on  which  in  a  scroll  is  the  motto,  LIBERTY,  and  with  the 
left,  the  liberty  pole,  surmounted  by  the  cap. 
Exergue. — 1837. 

Reverse. — ONE  DIME,  surrounded  by  a  wreath. 
.    Legend.—VmTm)  STATES  OF  AMIilllCA. 

(Size  4.     See  Plate  XVL,  Figure  8.) 


UNITED    STATES.  198 

Of  this  coinage  there  were  two  types  and  six  varieties,  and  the  number  coined  was 
1,042,000.  Both  types  are  plenty;  and  it  is  said  the  Branch  at  New  Orleans  had  the 
honor  of  their  first  mintage. 

Half-Dime. 

The  designs  the  same  of  the  previous  denomination,  with  two  types  and  five 
varieties,  and  the  number  coined  was  2,276,000.     Plenty.  1837. 

(Size  3.     See  Plate  XVI.,  Figure  12.) 

Dollar. 

Device. — The  Goddess  of  Liberty  seated,  supporting  with  her  right  hand  the  shield, 

ou  which  is  a  scroll  with  tlie  motto,  LIBERTY,  and  with  the  left  the     1838. 
liberty  pole,  surmounted  by  the  cap.     Around  the  edge   of  the   upper 
portion  of  the  field  thirteen  six-pointed  stars. 

Exergue.— l^Z^. 

Reverse. — The  eagle,  volant,  in  the  centre  of  the  field. 

Legend.— TmiT^J)  STATES  OF  AMERICA. 

Exerque.—OW&  DOL. 

(Size  12.) 

The  Mint  report  does  not  notice  this  coinage.  Only  eighteen  were  struck  oflF,  and 
hence  they  are  peculiarly  rare. 

Half-Dollar. 

The  designs  unchanged,  with  one  type  and  three  varieties,  and  the  number 
coined  was  3,546,000.     Plenty.  1838. 

Quarter-Dollar  . 

The  designs  unchanged,  with  one  type  and  three  varieties,  and  the  number 
coined  was  832,000.     Plenty.  1838. 

Dime. 

The  designs  the  same  as  on  this  denomination  of  the  preceding  year,  with 
the  exception  of  the  addition  of  thirteen  six-pointed  stars  around  the  upper     1838. 
part  of  the  obverse,  with  one  type  and  two  varieties,  and  the  number  coined 
was  1,992,500.     Scarce. 

(Size  4.     See  Plate  XVL,  Figure  11.) 

Half-Dime. 

The  designs  the  same  as  upon  the  denomination  preceding,  with  one  type 
and  three  varieties,  and  the  number  coined  was  2,255,000.     Scarce.  1838. 

25 


194  UNITED    STATES. 

Dollar. 

The  designs  the  same  as  on  this  denomination  of  the  preceding  year,  with 
1839.     one  type   and   one   variety,   and   the   number   coined   was    300.     They  are 
extremely  rare. 

HALF-DOLLAR. 

1839.         The  designs  unaltered,  with  one  type  and  three  varieties,  and  the  number 
coined  was  3,334,561.     Plenty. 

Quarter-Dollar. 

1839.         The  designs  unaltered,  with  three  types  and  four  varieties,  and  the  number 
coined  was  491,146.     Scarce ;  the  first  type  being  very  rare. 

Dime. 

1839.         The  designs  unchanged,  with  one  type  and  two  varieties,  and  the  number 
coined  was  1,053,115.     Rare. 

Half-Dime. 

1839.  The  designs  unchanged,  with  one  type  and  two  varieties,  and  the  number 
coined  was  1,069,150.     Plenty. 

Dollar. 

1840.  Device. — The  Goddess  of  Liberty  seated,  supporting  a  shield  with  the  right  hand, 

and  with  the  left  the  pole,  surmounted  by  the  liberty  cap.     Around  the 
upper  portion  of  the  field  thirteen  six-pointed  stars. 
Exergue. — 1840. 
Reverse. — The  eagle  with  expanded  wings,  holding  in  its  talons  the  arrows  and 

laurel  branch. 
Legend.— \miT^J)  STATES  OF  AMERICA. 
Exergue.— 01^^  DOL. 

(Size  12.     See  Plate  XV.,  Figure  7.) 

Of  this  emission  there  was  one  type  and  a  single  variety,  and  the  number  coined 
■was  61,005.     Scarce. 


UNITED    STATES.  195 


Half-Dollar. 


^-d 


The  designs  the  same  as  upon  the  dollar  of  this  year,  the  exergue  being 

HALF  DOL.,  with  one  type  and  two  varieties,  and  the  number  coined  was     1840. 

1,435,008.     Plenty. 

(Size  9.     See  Plate  XV.,  Figure  9.) 

Quarter-Dollar. 

The  designs  the  same  as  upon  the  half-dollar  of  this  year,  with  one  type  and 
two  varieties,  and  the  number  coined  was  188,137.     Scarce.  1840. 

Dime. 

The  designs  unchanged,  with  one  type  and  two  varieties,  and  the  number 
coined  was  1,358,580.     Plenty.  1840. 

Half-Dime. 

The  designs  unchanged,  with  one  type  and  two  varieties,  and  the  number 
coined  was  1,344,085.     Plenty.  1840. 

Dollar. 

The  designs  unchanged,  with  one  type  and  two  varieties,  and  the  number 
coined  was  173,000.     Plenty.  1841. 

Half-Dollar. 

The  designs  unchanged,  with  one  type  and  three  varieties,  and  the  number 
coined  was  310,000.     Rare.  1841. 

Quarter-Dollar. 

The  designs  unchanged,  with  one  type  and  two  varieties,  and  the  number 
coined  was  120,000.     Rare.  1841. 

Dime. 

The  designs  unchanged,  with  one  type  and  three  varieties,  and  the  number 
coined  was  1,622,500.     Plenty.  1841. 

Half-Dime. 

The  designs  unchanged,  with  one  type  and  two  varieties,  and  the  number 
coined  was  1,150,000.     Plenty.  1841. 


196 


UNITED    STATES. 


DATE. 

1 

DESIGNS. 

DENOMINATION. 

TYPES. 

s 

< 

COINAGE. 

REMARKS. 

I 

1842 

Unaltered. 

Dollar. 

3 

184,618 

Plenty. 

a 

11 

Half-Dollar. 

2 

2,012,764 

11 

ic 

11 

Quarter-Dollar, 

4 

88,000 

Rare. 

a 

u 

Dime. 

2 

1,887,500 

Plenty. 

u 

11 

Half- Dime. 

1 

815,000 

Scarce. 

1843 

« 

Dollar. 

1 

165,000 

Plenty. 

a 

(( 

Half-Dollar. 

1 

6,112,000 

li 

li 

11 

Quarter-Dollar. 

2 

1,613,600 

il 

i( 

li 

Dime. 

1 

1,520,000 

il 

u 

il 

Half-Dime. 

1 

1,165,000 

li 

1844 

il 

Dollar. 

1 

20,000 

Rare. 

(( 

li 

Half-Dollar. 

1 

3,771,000 

il 

(I 

a 

Quarter-Dollar. 

2 

1,161,200 

Scarce. 

u 

a 

Dime. 

4 

72,500 

11 

u 

il 

Half-Dime. 

3 

650,000 

Plenty. 

1845 

li 

Dollar. 

1 

24,500 

Scarce. 

u 

a 

Half-Dollar. 

1 

2,683,000 

a 

u 

a 

Quarter-Dollar. 

1 

922,000 

a 

C( 

it 

Dime. 

2 

1,985,000 

Plenty. 

(( 

a 

Half-Dime. 

3 

1,565,000 

a 

1846 

11 

Dolljrr. 

1 

169,600 

Scarce. 

(I 

11 

Half-Dollar. 

2 

4,514,000 

Plenty. 

(C 

11 

Quarter-Dollar. 

1 

510,000 

Rare. 

« 

il 

Dime. 

1 

31,300 

il 

a 

(( 

Half-Dime. 

1 

27,000 

a 

1847 

11 

Dollar. 

1 

140,750 

Plenty. 

u 

11 

Half-Dollar. 

1 

3,740,000 

(( 

u 

11 

Quarter-Dollar. 

1 

1,102,000 

Scarce. 

u 

a 

Dime. 

2 

245,000 

(( 

li 

il 

Half-Dime. 

2 

1,270,000 

Plenty. 

1848 

11 

Dollar. 

1 

15,000 

Scarce. 

li. 

il 

Half-Dollar. 

2 

580,000 

Plenty. 

li 

il 

Quarter-Dollar. 

3 

146,000 

Rare. 

11 

li 

Dime. 

2 

451,000 

Scarce. 

11 

11 

Half-Dime. 

2 

668,000 

a 

1849 

il 

Dollar. 

1 

62,600 

il 

a 

a 

Half-Dollar. 

1 

1,252,000 

Plenty. 

a 

il 

Quarter-Dollar. 

2 

340,000 

Scarce. 

11 

il 

Dime. 

3 

839,000 

Plenty. 

It 

il 

Half-Dime. 

4 

1,309,000 

(( 

/ 


UNITED    STATES. 


197 


DATE. 

DESIGNS. 

DENOMINATION. 

TYPES. 

m 
H 

> 

COINAGE. 

REMARKS. 

1850 

Unaltered. 

Dollar. 

1 

7500 

Scarce. 

i( 

(( 

Half-Dollar. 

1 

227,000 

(C 

i< 

u 

Quarter-Dollar. 

2 

190,800 

(C 

Dime. 
Half- Dime. 

1 
3 

1,931,500 
955,000 

Plenty. 

1851 

Dollar 
Half-Dollar. 

3 
2 

1300 
200,750 

Extremely  rare. 

Scarce. 

u 

(( 

Quarter-Dollar. 

3 

160,000 

(( 

11 

(( 

Dime. 
Half-Dime. 

2 
2 

1,026,500 
78,100 

Plenty. 

Three-Cent  Piece. 

Device. — A  six-pointed  star,  in  the  centre  of  which  is  a  shield.  1851. 

Legend.— UWLTm)  STATES  OF  AMERICA. 

Exergue. — 1851. 

Reverse. — An  ornamented  C,  in  the  centre  of  which  are  the  numerals  TIT, ;  above  is  the 

olive  branch,  and  beneath  are  the  arrows ;  and  around  the  edge  of  the  field  are 

thirteen  six-pointed  stars. 

(Size  3.     See  Plate  XVI.,  Figure  17.) 

Much  odium  was  visited  upon  this  little  coin  when  it  first  made  its  appearance.  It 
has,  however,  survived  it,  and  is  now  a  great  favorite.  There  were  one  type  and  two 
varieties  of  this  coin,  and  the  number  coined  was  5,447,400.     Plenty. 


DATE. 

DESIGNS. 

DENOMINATION. 

TYPES. 

s 

(> 

COINAGE 

REMARKS. 

1852 

Unaltered. 

Dollar. 

1 

1100 

Rare. 

a 

Half-Dollar. 

2 

77,130 

Scarce. 

(( 

Quarter-Dollar. 

3 

177,060 

il 

(( 

Dime. 

3 

12,173,010 

Plenty. 

il 

Half-Dime. 

2 

13,345,020 

il 

il 

Three-Cent. 

2 

11,400,000 

11 

1853 

li 

Dollar. 

1 

46,000 

Scarce. 

J  98 


UNITED    STATES. 


Half-Dollar. 

The  designs  unchanged,  except  by  the  addition  of  a  barbed  arrow  on  each 

1853.     side  of  the  exergue,  on  the  obverse,  and  the  rays  in  the  background  of  the 

eagle  —  covering  the  entire  field  on  the  reverse.     There  were  of  this  emission 

two  types  and  three  varieties,  and  the  number  coined  was  2,892,000.    They  are  plenty. 


DATE. 

DESIGNS. 

DENOMINATION. 

TTPES. 

a 
2 
■< 
> 

COINAGE. 

REMARKS. 

1853 

Unaltered. 

Quarter-Dollar. 

3 

15,254,200 

Plenty. 

(( 

u 

Dime. 

3 

12,173,010 

il 

(C 

a 

Half-Dime. 

2 

13,345,020 

it 

IC 

(( 

Three-Cent. 

2 

11,400,000 

li 

1854 

(( 

Dollar. 

1 

33,140 

Rare. 
f  The  rays  of  the  pre- 

i( 

It 

Half-Dollar. 

3 

2,982  000 

■<  vious     issue     aban- 
V  doned.     Plenty. 

a 

u 

Quarter-Dollar. 

2 

2,380,000 

Plenty. 

a 

a 

Dime 

3 

4,470,000 

(( 

(I 

li 

Half-Dime. 

3 

5,740,000 

(( 

u 

a 

Three-Cent. 

2 

671,000 

it 

1855 

u 

Dollar. 

1 

26,000 

Scarce. 

a 

It 

Half-Dollar. 

2 

759,500 

Plenty. 

(I 

u 

Quarter-Dollar. 

2 

2,857,000 

(( 

(I 

(( 

Dime, 

3 

2,075,000 

(( 

a 

u 

Half-Dime. 

3 

1,750,000 

it 

" 

tl 

Three-Cent. 

2 

139,000 

Rare. 

1856 

(C 

Dollar. 

2 

63,500 

Scarce. 
r  The  arrows  removed 

tc 

u 

Half-Dollar. 

2 

938,000 

■<  from  the  sides  of  the 
I  exergue.     Plenty. 

(( 

il 

Quarter-Dollar. 

2 

7,264,000 

Plenty. 

(( 

u 

Dime. 

4 

5,780,000 

(( 

u 

11 

Half-Dime. 

2 

4,880,000 

It 

u 

<( 

Three-Cent. 

1 

1,458,000 

It 

1857 1 

li 

Dollar. 

1 

94,000 

It 

u 

11 

Half-Dollar. 

1 

142,000 

tt 

11 

il 

Dime. 

2 

4,890,000 

it 

C( 

il 

Half-Dime. 

2 

3,940,000 

it 

_.    1 

1  To  June  30th. 


PL  ATE  XVI. 


L  NRosHiilJi.il  I.ith.Miilad ' 


UNITED    STATES.  199 

COPPER    COINAGE. 

Following  will  be  found  the  types  and  varieties  of  this  currency,  with  such  history 
and  incidents  in  relation  thereto  as  we  have  been  able  to  gather.  Though  a  despised 
coin — too  often,  we  fear,  the  consequence  of  affectation — it  has  been,  and  continues  to 
be  a  very  useful  one ;  enabling  him  who  affects  to  disregard  trifles,  to  gratify  to  the 
utmost  the  natural  cupidity,  which,  in  pecuniary  transactions,  is  often  enchanted  with 
the  advantage  of  a  penny. 

For.our  own  part,  we  deem  it  an  important  medium,  between  man  and  man,  which 
not  only  subserves  the  purposes  of  a  fractional  currency,  but  sometimes  quiets  the 
fractional  ideas  which  otherwise  might  result  in  differences  that  a  larger  denomination 
of  coin  could  not  heal. 

Chain  Cent. 

Device. — Goddess  of  Liberty,  the  hair  streaming  backward,  freely  and  unbound.         1793. 

Legend,— LISERTY. 

Uxergue.—n9S. 

Reverse.— A.  circle  composed  of  fifteen  links,  forming  a  chain. 

Inscription.— 0^¥,  CENT  j^tj 

Legend.— JmiTm)  STATES  OF  AMERICA 

Edge. — Stars  and  stripes. 

(Size  7.     See  Plate  XVIL,  Figures  1  and  2.) 

Of  the  above  described  coin,  we  have  found  in  circulation  but  four  types  and  six 
varieties,  which  may  be  distinguished  by  the  punctuation  of  the  legend  on  the  obverse, 
and  termination  of  the  base  line  of  the  bust,  as  follows : 

Legends.  TypeB.  Varietws. 

I.LIBERTY     Base  Curved  Line     L 

2.  LIBERTY "  2. 

8.  LIBERTY     Point     1. 

4.  LIBERTY "        2. 

The  varieties  may  be  determined  by  the  variation  of  the  legends  on  the  reverse ;  the 
edges  plain  or  figured ;  the  inscriptions,  and  the  configuration  of  the  chain.  In  one 
type  the  legend  on  the  reverse  reads  AMERI  instead  of  AMERICA ;  of  this  there  are 
two  varieties.  In  one  variety  the  edge  is  plain,  and  in  others,  there  is  a  variation  in 
the  size  of  the  chain.  We  have  noticed  other  peculiarities  on  the  reverse,  but  we  have 
not  deemed  them  of  sufficient  importance  to  extend  the  number  of  the  varieties. 


200  UNITED    STATES. 

In  type  No.  1,  neither  the  legend  nor  exergue  is  punctuated,  and  the  base  line  of  the 
bust  connects  with  the  hair  without  forming  a  point ;  in  No.  2  the  legend  and  exergue 
are  punctuated,  and  the  base  line  joins  the  hair  in  the  same  manner;  in  No.  3  there 
is  no  punctuation  of  the  legend,  and  at  the  point  where  the  base  line  joins  the  hair,  the 
angles  form  a  figure  resembling  the  letter  W,  and  No.  4  difiers  from  No.  3  only  in 
being  punctuated. 

The  impressions  from  the  die,  in  types  No.  1  and  2,  were  imparted  very  faintly, 
hence  it  is  very  rare  to  find  good  specimens  of  these  types ;  in  No.  3  and  4  they  were 
much  better,  and  consequently  they  are  found  well  preserved. 

In  no  instance  have  we  found  the  palm  leaves  on  either  of  the  types  bearing  the  chain. 
"We  are  disposed  to  assume,  although  we  have  no  positive  evidence  to  that  effect,  that 
the  type  bearing  the  abbreviated  legend,  was  the  first  struck  off  after  the  adoption  of 
the  Constitution.  ^ 

Wreath  Cent. 

1793.        Device. — Goddess  of  Liberty,  the  hair  flowing  loosely  back,  and  beneath  the  bust, 
three  leaves. 
Legend.— LIBERTY . 
Exergue. — 1793. 

Reverse. — A  wreath  enclosing  the  words  ONE  CENT. 
Legend.— V^VIED  STATES  OF  AMERICA. 
Exergue.— jI-q 
Edge.—^ivv^QQ  and  stars. 

(Size  7.     See  Plate  XVIL,  Figures  3  and  4.) 

Of  this  cent  we  have  found  in  cabinet  collections  and  circulation,  two  types  and 
twenty-one  varieties,  as  follows : 

Type.  Varieties. 

Head,  small 17. 

"      large 4. 

The  varieties  are  distinguished  either  by  the  arrangement  of  the  hair,  form  of  the 
head,  or  size  and  form  of  the  palm  leaves,  &c.  The  palm  leaves  aid  very  materially  in 
establishing  the  varieties,  and  may  be  particularized  as  follows : 

Large  Palm  Leaves 7  varieties. 

Medium       "  5         " 

Small  "  ....: 3        " 

Double  Stem  Palm  Leaves 4        " 

Single  Stem  "  2         " 


UNITED    STATES.  201 

The  varieties  may  be  determined,  as  far  as  our  classification  of  them  extends,  by 
comparing  them  with  these  divisions.  They  were  probably  issued  in  the  order  described. 
Though  the  number  of  dies,  at  so  early  a  period  in  our  coinage,  may  excite  some  sur- 
prise, yet  we  believe  that  further  research  would  increase  it. 

Half-Cent. 

Device. — ^A  bust  of  the  Goddess  of  Liberty,  the  hair  flowing  loosely  back,  facing 

left,  and  supporting,  from  the  shoulder,  the  liberty-pole  surmounted  by    1793, 
the  cap. 

Legend.— LiSERllY. 

Uxergue.—119S. 

Reverse. — A  laurel  wreath  surrounding  the  words  HALF  CENT. 

Exergue. — -j^^ 

Edge.— TWO  HUNDRED  FOR  A  DOLLAR. 

(Size  5J.     See  Plate  XYH.,  Figure  17.) 

Though  it  has  very  frequently  been  asserted  that  this  denomination  of  coin  was 
issued,  bearing  the  chain,  to  correspond  with  the  cent  with  that  device,  still  we  have 
never  been  able  to  find  any  reliable  authority  for  it.  This  emission  of  the  half-cent, 
therefore,  may  be  considered  as  the  first  coined  by  our  government.  It  possesses,  we 
think,  on  that  account,  a  peculiar  interest.  We  have  found  one  type  and  six  varieties. 
They  are  rare,  as  it  is  difficult  to  find  them  in  a  good  state  of  preservation. 

Liberty-Cap   Cent. 

Device. — The  Goddess  of  Liberty,  facing  to  the  right,  the  hair  flowing  loosely  back, 

and  supporting  the  pole  surmounted  by  the  liberty-cap.  1793. 

Legend.— LJSERHY. 
Exergue.— n9S. 

Reverse. — A  wreath  inclosing  the  words  ONE  CENT. 
Legend.— V^IT^J)  STATES  OF  AMERICA. 

Exergue. — y^^  >'       ■■ 

Edge.—O^^  HUNDRED  FOR  A  DOLLAR 

(Size  8.     See  Plate  XVII.,  Figure  5.) 

Of  this  cent  we  have  seen  but  few,  owing  to  their  scarcity.  In  our  researches  we 
have  discovered  but  one  type  and  four  varieties. 

We  think  the  coins  of  this  type  were  designed  and  struck  off  in  the  latter  part  of 
this  year  as  trial  pieces,  for  the  Mint  authorities  adopted  them,  as  described,  for  the 
emission  of  cents  and  half-cents  of  the  succeeding  three  years. 
26 


202  UNITED   STATES. 

The  varieties  can  be  distinguished  by  the  variations  in  the  effigy,  wreath,  and  spaces 
between  the  figures  of  the  date.  In  one  of  the  varieties  there  must  have  been  a  fiaw 
in  the  die,  which  disfigured  the  effigy  by  a  raised  line  through  it  lengthwise.  :  Thi^ 
copper  planchets  used  for  this  cent  were  of  such  pure  material  that  they  suffered  from 
the  slightest  abrasion  j  and,  therefore,  perfect  specimens  are  both  rare  and  valuable. 

Cent. 

1794.         Device. — The  Goddess  of  Liberty,  facing  to  the  right,  the  hair  flowing  loosely  back, 
and  supporting  the  pole  surmounted  by  the  liberty-cap. 
Legend.— LJSmiTY. 
Exergue. — 1794. 

Reverse. — A  wreath  inclosing  the  words  ONE  CENT. 
Legend.— Um.Tl^'D  STATES  OF  AMERICA. 
Exergue. — j^-q 
Edge.— OWE,  HUNDRED  FOR  A  DOLLAR. 

(Size  8.     See  Plate  XVIL,  Figure  6.) 

Of  this  emission  we  have  discovered  but  one  type ;  of  which  twenty-six  varieties 
have  come  under  our  notice,  which  may  be  determined  mainly  by  reference  to  the 
variations  of  those  of  1793. 

These  cents  were  somewhat  thicker  than  those  that  preceded  them,  the  weight  of 
each  being  increased  about  seventeen  grains ;  the  hair  of  the  goddess,  also,  does  not 
recede  so  much  from  the  forehead. 

The  planchets  from  which  they  were  struck  were  of  good  copper,  and  the  milling 
of  the  edges  being  more  prominent  has  protected  them  from  the  effect  of  abrasion,  and 
hence  they  are  frequently  found  in  a  fine  state  of  preservation. 

They  are  quite  plenty,  the  number  issued  by  the  Mint  amounted,  according  to  the 
official  statement,  to  12,513,300;  and  the  number  of  dies  in  a  single  year,  excites 
surprise,  the  preparation  of  each  die  involving  much  expense. 

Half-Cent. 

The  same  as  the  cent  in  design,  except  in  the  denomination,  which  is  ex- 
1794.     pressed  shis-     We  have  found  but  one  type  and  five  varieties ;  they  are  in  a 
fine  state  of  preservation  and  are  not  rare. 

(Size  5i.   See  Plate  XYII.,  Figure  18.) 


UNITED    STATES.  203 

Cent.  ^ 

The  design  the  same  as  those  coined  in  the  latter  part  of  the  year  1794, 
which  have  a  small  curved  line  above  the  date.     Of  these  cents  there  were     1795. 
two  types  and  eight  varieties. 

(Size  8.     See  Plate  XVII.,  Figure  7.) 

The  pieces  coined  in  the  early  part  of  this  year,  which  we  denominate  as  the  first 
type,  were  the  same  in  weight  and  thickness  as  those  of  1794,  being  about  208  grains 
in  weight.  They  bear  on  their  edge  ONE  HUNDRED  FOR  A  DOLLAR;  but  in 
the  type  which  we  designate  as  No.  2,  subsequently  coined,  we  find,  by  weighing  them, 
that  there  was  a  reduction  in  weight  of  from  38  to  40  grains  in  each  cent,  and  that 
the  edge  was  so  narrow  as  to  exclude  the  legend  which  occurs  in  type  No.  1. 

The  President  issued  a  proclamation,  January  29,  1796,  based  upon  an  Act  of  Con- 
gress of  the  3d  of  March,  1795,  in  which,  for  the  reasons  therein  urged,  of  '•  the 
increased  price  of  copper  and  the  expense  of  coinage,"  he  had  ordered  the  cent  to  be 
reduced  in  weight,  one  pennyweight  and  sixteen  grains,  and  the  half-cent  in  like  pro- 
portion, from  the  27th  day  of  December,  1795,  which  weight  was  continued  down  to 
the  last  issue  of  the  old  whole  and  half-cents. 

Half-Cents. 

The  design  the  same  as  the  cents,  and  like  them  of  two  types.     Of  the  first 
type  we  have  seen  but  a  single  specimen,  consequently  we  can  convey  no     1795. 
information  relative  to  varieties.    Being  so  scarce,  they  are  necessarily  very  rare. 

Of  the  second  type  there  are  four  varieties.  The  effigy  was  altered  in  this  type 
by  reducing  the  size,  which  was  probably  suggested  by  the  diminution  of  the  weight, 
corresponding  to  that  of  the  cent,  of  some  twenty  grains.  The  change  of  the  size  of 
the  effigy,  according  to  our  taste,  rendered  it  much  less  artistic  and  interesting. 

(Size  5i.     See  Plate  XVII.,  Figure  19.) 

Cent. 

The  design  of  the  first  issue  of  this  year  was  the  same  as  of  the  cent  of  the 
reduced  weight  that  followed  the  proclamation.     But  in  the  latter  portion  of     1796. 
this  year  the  type  was  wholly  changed ;  for,  instead  of  the  naked  bust  and 
liberty-cap,  the  hair  was  formed  into  a  cue  on  the  back  of  the  head,  and  around  the 
lower  .part  of  the   same  it  was    supplied  with  ringlets.     The  bust  was   also   much 
enlarged,  and  republican  modesty,  for  the  first  time,  substituted  drapery  for  nudity. 


204  UNITED    STATES. 

This  change  gave  for  this  year  two  types  and  fourteen  varieties,  six  of  the  first,  and 
eight  of  the  second  type.     The  number  coined  974,700. 

(Size  8.     See  Plate  XVII.,  Figures  8  and  9.) 

Half-Cent. 

The  design  the  same  as  of  the  cent  last  issued  and  described.     In  our  very 

1796.  extensive  researches,  though  there  were  115,480  pieces  of  this  design  and 
denomination  issued  in  this  year,  we  have  only  been  able  to  find  ten  pieces  in 

the  whole ;  and  our  investigations  have  resulted  in  but  one  type  and  two  varieties. 
There  may  be  more,  but  we  have  not  been  able  to  discover  them. 

Taking  into  view  the  number  coined,  it  is  difficult  to  account  for  this  scarcity.  But, 
probably  being  defective,  from  the  imperfect  tempering  of  the  dies,  as  the  greater 
number  of  the  very  few  pieces  we  have  found  indicate,  they  may  have  been  deemed 
unworthy  of  care  or  preservation.  But  three  cabinets  in  Philadelphia  contain  a 
specimen  of  this  coin ;  they  are  consequently  both  rare  and  valuable. 

Cent. 

The  design  is  the  same  as  the  preceding,  or  of  the  second  type  of  the  cent, 

1797.  bearing  the  cue  in  the  last  named  year.     Of  this  issue  there  are  but  one  type 
and  eleven  varieties,  and  though  the  number  (897,510)  coined  was  compara- 
tively small,  they  are  not  considered  scarce. 

Half-Cent. 

The  design  corresponds  with  the  reduced  liberty-cap  head  of  the  cent  of 

1797.  1796.    There  are  but  one  type  and  four  varieties  of  this  coin.    The  impressions 
on  them  are  rather  faint,  which  render  good  specimens  very  difficult  to  be 

procured.     They  are  neither  scarce  nor  rare;  number  coined,  107,048. 

(Size  5i.     See  Plate  XVII.,  Figure  20.) 

Cent. 

The  design  the  same  as  of  the  cent  of  1797,  with  but  one  type  and  seventeen 

1798.  varieties;  the  latter  of  which  may  be  distinguished  by  examining  the  legend, 
bust,  wreath,  date,  &c.    The  die  of  one  of  these  varieties  was  altered  from  that 

of  1797  —  the  first  Mint  alteration,  we  believe,  that  occurred  in  the  copper  coinage. 
The  number  of  cents  issued  this  year  was  979,700,  most  of  which  must  have  been  kept 


UNITED    STATES.  205 

in  circulation  from  the  great  number  of  them  about  but  a  short  time  since.  They  are 

mostly  in  a  good  state  of  preservation,  the  material  of  which  they  were  composed 
having  been  a  happy  combination  for  resistance  to  abrasion. 


Cent. 

The  design  the  same  with  one  type  and  four  varieties.  This  cent  is  deemed 
by  Numismatologists  as  being  very  rare  and  valuable;  fine  specimens  of  which  1799. 
will  command  a  greater  premium  than  those  of  the  cent  of  1793  of  the  same 
condition  of  preservation,  to  which,  from  their  extreme  scarcity,  much  value  is  attached. 
The  number  of  this  coin  issued  amounted  to  904,585  —  no  insignificant  sum.  Their 
scarcity,  however,  is  attributed  to  a  shipment  to  the  coast  of  Africa,  by  a  Salem,  Mass., 
firm,  of  several  hundred  thousand  on  an  order  from  that  country,  where,  being  punched 
with  holes,  they  were  bartered  away,  probably  to  the  chiefs — certainly  not  for  negroes 
—  and  subsequently  used  as  ornaments  by  the  natives,  being  depended  from  the  neck 
by  a  string,  and  showing  to  what  good  account  so  slightly  valuable  a  thing  as  a  copper 
cent  may  be  applied  by  the  sagacity  of  our  countrymen. 

Of  the  few  of  these  cents  to  be  found,  it  is  very  difficult  to  procure  perfect  speci- 
mens. The  copper  of  which  they  were  composed  was  rendered  very  inferior  by  too 
much  alloy,  which  gave  them  a  very  rough  and  uneven  surface — perhaps  the  result  of 
the  copper  being  burnt  in  smelting. 

The  great  value  of  these  cents  among  numismatologists,  has  led  to  an  attempt  at 
counterfeiting  them,  by  altering  those  issued  in  1798  by  means  of  acid  or  the  graver — 
the  former  being  the  most  successful.    Both  are  readily  exposed  by  the  use  of  the  lens. 

Half-Cent. 

The  Mint  report  gives  the  issue  of  this  coin  for  the  year  at  12,167 — a  very 
inconsiderable  number  truly;  and  which,  if  there  were  any  issue  at  all,  may  1799. 
account  in  a  measure,  but  not  conclusively,  for  their  non-existence  now,  so  far 
as  we  have  been  able  to  discover.  We  have  discovered  errors  in  other  instances,  and  this 
also  may  be  one.  In  1815,  the  Mint  statistics  give  no  coinage  of  half-dollars;  and  also, 
in  1841,  no  quarter-eagle,  although  specimens  of  these  pieces  are  in  the  bands  of 
collectors,  they  having  been  coined  in  those  years,  if  the  date  is  any  proof  of  the  same. 
In  the  case  of  the  half-cent  of  this  year,  we  must  conclude  there  was  no  coinage,  or 
the  pecuharity  exists  of  their  total  disappearance. 


206  UNITED    STATES. 

Cent. 

The  design  the  same  as  the  preceding  year,  with  one  type  and  twelve 
1800.  varieties,  two  of  the  latter  of  which  were  struck  off  upon  the  dies  of  1799, 
altered  at  the  Mint  to  1800.  Some  collectors  have,  in  consequence  of  seeing 
the  circle  of  the  upper  part  of  the  nine  very  distinctly  in  the  naught,  placed  this  cent 
in  their  cabinets  as  belonging  to  the  former  year.  The  number  coined  this  year  was 
larger  than  any  preceding  one.  They  are  plenty,  very  much  worn  from  the  copper 
being  too  soft,  and  it  is  difficult  to  find  perfect  specimens. 

Half-Cent. 

In  this  year,  the  liberty-cap  on  the  half-cents  was  superseded  by  the  new 

1800.  design  which  has  prevailed  upon  the  cent  from  the  latter  portion  of  the  year 
1796.     Of  these  coins  there  were  one  type  and  three  varieties;  they  are  easily 

obtained  and  are  found  in  a  good  state  of  preservation.     Issue  211,530. 

(Size  6i.     See  Plate  XVII.,  Figure  21.) 

Cent. 

No  change  in  design  of  the  cent,  except  for  the  first  time,  we  notice  a  dot 

1801.  thus  p^j^,^      There  were  one  type  and  fifteen  varieties,  of  the  latter  of  which 
we  give  the  following  peculiarities :  say,  first,  with  oh,  and  a  raised  line,  from 

a  defect  in  the  die,  extending  across  the  piece ;  second,  the  legend  thus,  UNITED 
STATES  OF  AMERICA  —  the  die  otherwise  defective  in  this  piece,  than  in  the  first 
letter  in  the  legend,  there  being  a  line  from  a  crack  running  diagonally  across  the  II, 
and  also  but  a  single  end  to  the  ribbon  where  the  wreath  is  tied  together;  third,  jjU, 
and  one  of  the  ends  of  the  ribbon  extending  to  the  U  in  the  legend;  and  fourth, 
without  ribbon  ends  on  either  side.  The  other  varieties  may  be  distinguished  by  the 
position  of  the  wreath  to  the  legend.  The  number  of  cents  coined  this  year  was 
1,362,837;  they  are  plenty  enough,  but  good  specimens  are  in  demand. 

Half-cents  altered  from  those  of  1804,  and  hence  purporting  to  be  of  this  year's  issue, 
iire  frequently  sold  as  such,  though  no  coinage  of  them  occurred. 

Cent. 

The  design  the  same,  with  one  type  and  twenty-one  varieties,  and  the  number 

1802.  coined  was  3,435,100.     These   cents  are  abundant  and  in  a  good  state  of 
preservation. 


UNITED    STATES.  207 

As  in  the  preceding  year,  some  of  the  varieties  are  marked  with  the  same  errors, 
such  as  ^h ;  the  ribbon  extending  to  the  U  in  the  legend,  and  evidently  the  same  die, 
with  alteration  of  date,  as  the  preceding  year;  ddu,  die  not  cracked,  and,  also,  u^a,  with 
but  one  end  of  the  ribbon,  and  with  no  ends ;  exhibiting  great  carelessness,  or  a  total 
disregard  of  criticism,  which  was  inexcusable  even  in  the  coinage  of  the  lowest  denomi- 
nation in  our  currency.     It  is  said  a  trial  piece  in  brass  was  got  up  in  this  year. 

Half-Cent. 

The  design  the  same,  with  one  type  and  three  varieties,  and  the  number 
coined  very  small,  being  but  14,366,  which  has  rendered  them  very  rare.     1802. 
One  of  the  varieties  is  from  the  die  of  1800  altered,  and  portions  of  the  naught 
are  perceptible  around  the  figure  2,  which  is  smaller  than  the  other  figures.     They 
command  a  good  price  when  perfect,  which  is  very  rarely  the  case. 

Cent. 

The  design  unaltered,  with  one  type  and  fourteen  varieties,  and  the  number 
coined  was  2,471,353.     More  care  exercised  in  the  coinage  this  year,  and  we     1803. 
consequently  find  none  of  the  errors  which  characterized  the  two  former  years. 
Recourse  must  be  had  to  the  legend,  wreath,  and  figures,  for  determining  the  varieties. 
No  scarcity  of  this  emission,  and  they  are  found  well  preserved. 

Half-Cent. 

The  design  the  same  as  the  cent,  with  one  type  and  three  varieties.    Though 
the  number  coined  (97,300)  was  not  large,  there  is  no  scarcity  of  them,  and     1803. 
they  are  found  in  good  condition. 

Cent. 

The  design  the  same  as  the  preceding  year,  with  one  type  and  six  varieties, 
and  the  number  issued  amounted  to  756,838.  From  some  cause  which  we  1804. 
cannot  explain,  though  the  number  coined  was  very  considerable,  these  cents 
have  become  very  rare,  and  command  the  next  highest  premium  to  those  of  1799. 
This  has  induced  the  counterfeiting  of  them,  and  to  effect  it  the  coinage  of  other  years 
has  been  trespassed  upon  ;  that  most  successfully  altered  being  of  1801.  The  counter- 
feit may  be  detected  when  the  glass  fails,  by  noticing  the  cue  in  two  of  the  varieties, 
which  sets  unusually  low ;  two  are  broken  on  the  edges,  and  one  has  on  the  reverse  ish- 


208  UNITED    STATES. 

Half-Cent. 

1804.  The  design  the  same  as  the  cent,  with  one  type  and  five  varieties,  and  the 
number  coined,  1,055,312.     Plenty,  and  found  in  a  fine  state  of  preservation. 

Cent. 

The  design  the  same  as  the  preceding,  with  one  type  and  five  varieties. 

1805.  Although  the  number  coined  this  year  (941,116)  was  not  largely  in  excess  of 
those  coined  in  1804,  the  average  proportion  found  in  circulation  at  the  time 

of  the  issue  of  the  new  cent  was  at  least  30  to  1,  and  mostly  well  preserved. 

Half-Cent. 

1805.  The  design  the  same  as  the  cent,  with  one  type  and  five  varieties;   the 
number  coined  was  814,664.     They  are  not  by  any  means  rare. 

Cent. 

The  design  the  same  as  the  previous  year,  with  one  type  and  six  varieties ; 

1806.  the  number  coined  (348,000),  though  small  compared  with  the  issue  of  1805, 
has  not  prevented  them  from  being  more  abundant  than  those  of  that  year. 

"We  have  seen  one  variety  of  this  cent  which  was  struck  from  the  altered  die  of  1805, 
which  must  have  been  broken  or  discarded,  as  it  is  the  only  specimen  we  have  met 
with.     We  have  also  seen  another  variety  on  which  uou  occurs. 

Half-Cent. 

The  design  the  same  as  the  cent,  with  one  type  and  two  varieties ;  the 

1806.  number  coined  356,000.   Compared  with  the  cent,  it  is  very  difficult  to  procure 
them. 

Cent. 

The  design  the  same  as  the  preceding  year,  with  one  type  and  nine  varieties ; 

1807.  the  number  coined  was  727,221.     A  Mint  alteration  of  the  die  from  1806  to 
1807,  constitutes  one  of  the  varieties.     They  are  abundant   and   generally 

well  preserved. 

Half-Cent. 

1807,         The  design  the  same  as  the  cent,  with  one  type  and  four  varieties;  the 
number  coined,  476,000.     They  can  be  found  in  good  order. 


UNITED    STATES.  209 

Cent.  --^ 

The  design  the  same  in  the  first  portion  of  this  year ;  but  in  the  latter,  the 
devices  were  changed  —  the  Goddess  of  Liberty  facing  to  the  left  for  the  first  1808. 
time ;  across  the  head  of  the  same  is  a  band  on  which  "  LIBERTY"  is  inscribed, 
and  to  the  right  of  the  effigy  are  six,  and  to  the  left  seven,  stars.  The  wreath  on  the 
reverse  is  united  and  more  elaborate  in  workmanship,  and  jh  is  omitted.  The  bust  is 
deprived  of  its  drapery,  and  reduced  almost  to  the  original  size.  In  both  of  these  types 
we  have  found  but  seven  varieties ;  the  number  coined  was  1,109,000,  and  yet  they 
are  considered  to  be  scarce,  as  it  is  difficult  to  find  good  specimens.  The  line  below 
ONE  CENT  appeared  for  the  first  time  upon  this  denomination  of  coin. 

(Size  8.     See  Plate  XVII.,  Figure  10.) 

Half-Cent. 

The  design  the  same  with  the  cents  of  the  earliest  emission  of  this  year, 
with  one  type  and  three  varieties.     The  number  coined  was  400,000.     They     1808. 
are  well  preserved,  but  getting  to  be  scarce. 

Cent. 

The  design  the  same  as  the  new  emission  of  the  preceding  year,  with  one 
type  and  four  varieties,  the  number  coined,  small,  being  but  222,867;  in  1809. 
consequence  of  which  they  are  scarce.  The  rim  of  this  cent  is  very  imperfectly 
executed,  which  has  exposed  a  portion  of  the  effigy  and  exergue  to  serious  wear. 
There  are  many  cents  in  cabinets  which  have  been  altered  from  1808  to  1809 ;  this 
has  been  effected  principally  by  acids,  but  may  be  readily  detected  by  the  use  of  the 
glass.  The  most  perfect  specimens  in  Philadelphia  collections  were  taken  from  the 
corner-stone  of  the  "  Mansion  House"  by  Mr.  Hoxie  when  it  was  demolished. 

Half-Cent. 

The  devices  of  the  cent  were  adopted  in  this  emission,  with  one  type  and  four 
varieties,  and  the  number  coined  was  1,154,572.  1809. 

(Size  6.     See  Plate  XVII.,  Figure  22.) 

Cent. 

The  design  the  same  as  the  preceding  cent,  with  one  type  and  seven  varieties, 
and  the  number   coined   was  1,458,500.     We  notice   in    this   emission    the     1810. 
alteration  of  the  dies  of  1809  to  1810,  from  which  we  form  one  of  the  varieties. 
27 


210  UNITED    STATES. 

These  cents  are  plenty  enough,  but  owing  to  the  imperfect  rim,  previously  noticed,  it 
is  difficult  to  find  them  perfect 

Half-Cent. 

1810.  The  design  the  same,  with  one  type  and  four  varieties,  and  the  number 
coined  was  215,000.     So  small  as  to  render  them  scarce. 

Cent. 

The  design  the  same,  with  one  type  and  eight  varieties,  and  the  number 

1811.  coined  was  218,025.     We  have  to  notice  the  alteration  of  the  dies  of  1810  to 
1811  in  this  emission,  which  supplies  one  of  the  varieties.     Good  specimens 

are  seldom  found  in  circulation.  We  are  indebted  for  ours  to  an  unopened  keg 
returned  to  the  Mint  from  Charleston,  South  Carolina.  Collectors  must  be  careful  to 
avoid  the  cent  of  1814,  with  a  portion  of  the  last  figure  removed. 

Half-Cent. 

The  design  the  same,  with  one  type  and  two  varieties,  and  the  number 

1811.  coined  was  only  63,140.     They  are  considered  rare  and  valuable,  as  they  are 
to  be  found  but  in  few  cabinets. 

Cent. 

1812.  The  design  the  same,  with  one  type  and  nine  varieties,  and  the  number 
coined  was  1,075,500.     They  are  abundant. 

Cent. 

The  design  the  same,  with  one  type  and  nine  varieties,  and  the  number 

1813.  coined  was  418,000.     So  many  of  the  best  of  this  emission  have  been  altered 
to  1815,  that  it  is  difficult  to  obtain  good  specimens. 

Cent. 

The  design  the  same,  with  one  type  and  eight  varieties,  and  the  number 

1814.  coined  was  357,830.     The  number  of  these  cents  altered  to  1811  has  aided 
very  materially  to  supply  cabinets  with  their  specimens  of  that  year.    Additional 

value  has  been  attached  to  the  issues  of  that  year,  in  consequence  of  a  rumor  that  it 
contained  gold  lost  at  the  Mint  at  that  time.  Many  cling  to  them  with  much  tenacity 
on  that  account  —  the  slightest  basis  for  credulity  being  ardently  responded  to. 


UNITED    STATES.  211 

Cent.  ^-a 

In  this  year,  we  are  satisfied  there  was  no  coinage  of  either  cents  or  half- 
cents,  or  even  a  pattern-piece  gotten  up  for  either.  Most  numisraatologists  1815. 
and  others  concur  in  this  opinion,  though  a  few  contend  that  pattern-pieces 
were  struck  off  at  the  Mint,  and  urge  as  a  reason  for  their  not  being  coined  in  volume 
and  circulated,  the  destruction  of  the  Mint  by  fire  in  this  year.  It  will  be  found,  by 
referring  to  the  newspapers  of  that  time,  that  the  fire  did  not  occur  till  January,  1816, 
and  that  it  then  only  destroyed  a  portion  of  the  shed  adjoining  the  mint-house,  in 
which  the  rolling  was  done.  The  true  reason  for  the  non-coinage  was,  we  believe,  the 
want  of  copper,  occasioned  by  the  European  agents  not  sending  it  forward  in  time  for 
use.  A  few  amateur  collectors,  however,  boast  of  genuine  specimens,  and  cite  tests 
and  proofs;  but  if  the  coins  could  tell  their  own  history,  they  would  not  impute  their 
origin  to  the  United  States  Mint.  Those  we  have  examined,  bearing  the  date  of  this 
year,  are  clearly  alterations  of  the  cent  of  1813,  rendered  scarce,  as  we  have  heretofore 
remarked,  by  this  very  operation. 

Cent. 

The  device  on  the  obverse  in  this  emission  was  changed  by  the  adjustment 
of  the  hair,  which  was  tied  up  with  two  bands  into  a  tuft  upon  the  head,  1816. 
according  to  the  fashion  of  the  day.  The  stars  were  arranged  equidistant  from 
each  other,  and  from  the  exergue.  The  reverse  remained  unaltered.  Of  this  cent, 
there  were  one  type  and  eleven  varieties,  and  the  number  coined  was  2,820,982,  being 
large  in  consequence  of  the  non-coinage  of  the  preceding  year.  They  are  quite  plenty, 
and  can  be  procured  looking  as  fresh  as  when  they  first  came  from  the  Mint. 

(Size  8.     See  Plate  XVII.,  Figure  11.) 

Cent. 

The  design  the  same  as  the  preceding,  with   two   types  and  twenty-two 
varieties,  and  the  number  coined  was  3,948,400.     One  of  the  types  contains     1817. 
thirteen,  and  the  other,  fifteen  stars.    The  metal  of  which  they  were  composed 
is  well  milled  and  very  hard,  which  protects  the  face  of  the  coin.     They  are  hence  in 
a  good  state  of  preservation. 

(Size  8.     See  Plate  XVII.,  Figure  12.) 

Cent. 

The  design  the  same,  with  one  type  and    ten   varieties,  and  the  number 
coined  was  3,167,000.     Plenty  and  well  preserved.  1818. 


212  UNITED    STATES. 

Cent. 

The  design  the  same,  with  one  type  and  ten  varieties,  and  the  number 

1819.  coined  was  2,671,000.     In  the  latter  part  of  this  year,  we  notice  the  absence 
of  the  dot  between  ONE  and  CENT  in  some  of  the  varieties.     Equally  plenty, 

and  in  good  order  with  the  preceding  emission  out. 

Cent. 

The  design  the  same,  with  one  type  and  sixteen  varieties,  and  the  number 

1820.  coined  was  4,407,550.    The  dot,  previously  referred  to,  occurs  but  on  a  portion 
of  the  varieties.     The  slight  milling  of  the  edges  of  these  coins  render  good 

specimens  difficult  to  be  obtained. 

Cent. 

The  design  the  same,  with  one  type  and  five  varieties,  and  the  number 

1821.  coined  was  389,000.     The  small  number  originally  issued  renders  these  cents 
scarce,  and   good   specimens    are   obtained   with   much   difficulty  —  the   few 

remaining  in  circulation  being  very  poor,  owing  to  the  imperfect  milling  of  the  edges. 

Cent. 

The  design  the  same,  with  one  type  and  nine  varieties,  and  the  number 

1822.  coined  was  2,072,339.     They  are   plenty,  but  it  is  difficult  to  obtain  good 
specimens. 

Cent. 

The  design   the  same,  with  one  type  and  three  varieties,  two  of  which 

1823.  varieties  are  mint  alterations  of  the  date  upon  the  die  of  the  preceding  year. 
The  number  coined — obtained  through  letters  from  Washington — was  12,250.^ 

This  coinage  is  not  acknowledged  in  the  Mint  report,  it  being,  from  that  authority, 
one  of  the  years  of  non-coinage.  The  copper  of  this  emission  is  pure  and  soft,  hence 
the  cents  are  much  worn,  and  can  be  rarely  found  in  a  condition  worthy  of  preservation. 
They  command  a  premium. 

Cent. 

1824.  The  design  the  same,  with  one  type  and  seven  varieties,  and  the  number 
coined  was  1,262,000.     Plenty,  but  much  worn. 

^  See  State  papers,  1st  Session,  18th  Congress,  vol.  ii.  Doc.  152. 


UNITED    STATES.  218 

Cent.  ^ 

The  design  the  same,  with  one  type  and  nine  varieties,  and  the  number 
coined  was  1,461,000.     Not  scarce,  but  much  worn.  1825. 

Half-Cent. 

The  design  the  same,  with  one  type  and  three  varieties,  and  the  number 
coined,  63,000.  Notwithstanding  this  small  emission,  they  are  plenty  and  1825. 
well  preserved,  showing  that,  in  the  fourteen  years  during  which  there  had  been 
no  issue,  the  people  had  acquired  the  habit  of  disregarding  fractions,  and  felt  no  dispo- 
sition to  renew  them  in  making  change.  We  can  recollect,  however,  when,  in  some 
portions  of  our  country,  the  half-cent  was  rigidly  exacted,  and  where  many  a  war  of 
words,  and  sometimes  of  fists,  grew  out  of  such  a  controversy. 

Cent. 

The  design  the   same,  with  one  type   and  ten  varieties,  and  the  number 
coined  was  1,517,425.     This  emission  not  scarce,  but  much  worn.  1826. 

Half-Cent. 

The  design  the  same,  with  one  type  and  four  varieties,  and  the  number 
coined  was  234,000.     They  are  easily  procured,  though  seldom  circulated.  1826. 

Cent. 

The  design  the  same,  with  one  type  and  eleven  varieties,  and  the  number 
coined  was  2,357,732.     Well  preserved  and  abundant.  1827. 

Cent. 

The  design  the  same,  with  one  type  and  ten  varieties,  and  the  number 
coined  was  2,260,624.     Plenty  and  well  preserved.  1828. 

Half-Cent. 

The  design  the  same,  with  two  types  and  five  varieties,  and  the  number 
coined  was  606,000.     One  of  these  types  has,  on  the  obverse,  twelve  instead     1828. 
of  thirteen  stars — seven  on  the  left,  and  five  on  the  right  hand.     This  number 
of  stars   undoubtedly  originated  in  error,  as  nothing  less   than    thirteen   had    any 
intelligible  reference  to  our  country,  as  adopted  upon  our  coinage.    This  emission  is  by 
no  means  rare. 

(Size  6.     See  Plate  XVII.,  Figure  23.) 


214  UNITED    STATES. 

Cent. 

1829.         The  design  the  same,  with  one  type  and  seven  varieties,  and  the  number 
coined  was  1,414,500.     Not  difficult  to  be  obtained. 

Half-Cent. 

1829.  The  design  the  same,  with  one  type  and  three  varieties,  and  the  number 
coined  was  487,000.     It  is  difficult  to  obtain  specimens. 

Cent. 

1830.  The  design  the  same,  with  one  type  and  nine  varieties,  and  the  number 
coined  was  1,711,500.     They  are  much  worn. 

Cent. 

1831.  The  design  the  same,  with  one  type  and  eight  varieties,  and  the  number 
coined  was  3,359,260.     Good  specimens  can  easily  be  obtained. 

Half-Cent. 

1831.  The  design  the  same,  with   one   type   and  one  variety,  and  the  number 
coined  was  2,200.    This  emission  is  extremely  rare,  even  in  cabinet  collections. 

Cent. 

1832.  The  design  the  same,  with  one  type  and  seven  varieties,  and  the  number 
coined  was  2,362,000.     They  are  plenty  and  perfect. 

Half-Cent. 

The  design  the  same,  with  one  type  and  four  varieties,  and  the  number 

1832.  coined  we  are  unable  to  state.     Though  the  Mint  report  states  there  was  no 
coinage  of  the  half-cent  in  this  year,  they  are  quite  as  plenty  as  the  same  denomi- 
nation of  coin  of  the  succeeding  year. 

Cent. 

1833.  The  design  the  same,  with  one  type  and  five  varieties,  and  the  number 
coined  was  2,739,000.     Plenty  and  well  preserved. 


UNITED    STATES.  216 


Half-Cent. 


^^ 


The  design  the  same,  with  one  type  and  two  varieties,  and  the  number 
coined  was  154,000.     Well  preserved  and  easily  obtained.  1833. 

Cent. 

The  design  the  same,  with  one  type  and  nine  varieties,  and  the  number 
coined  was  1,855,100.     Plenty  and  well  preserved.  1834. 

Half-Cent. 

The  design  the  same,  with  one  type  and  four  varieties,  and  the  number 
coined  was  120,000.     No  scarcity,  and  they  are  easily  procured.  1834. 

Cent. 

The  design  the  same,  with  one  type  and  five  varieties,  and  the  number 
coined  was  3,878,400,  which  would   indicate   profusion,  in  a  good  state  of     1835. 
preservation. 

Half-Cent. 

The  design  the  same,  with  one  type  and  four  varieties,  and  the  coinage 
numbered  141,000.     They  are  quite  plenty  and  are  found  in  good  condition.         1835. 

Cent. 

The  design  the  same,  with  one  type  and  three  varieties,  and  the  coinage 
numbered  2,111,000.     Not  scarce,  and  are  found  in  good  order.  1836. 

Half-Cent. 

The  design  the  same,  with  one  type  and  two  varieties,  and  the  number 
coined  (398,000),  though  much  larger  than  in  preceding  years,  failed  to  render     1836. 
them  plenty,  as  they  are  now  extremely  rare  and  command  a  premium. 

Cent. 

The  design  the  same,  with  two  types  and  eight  varieties,  and  the  number 
coined  was  5,558,300.     They  are  very  plenty,  and  there  is  no  difficulty  in     1837. 
finding  perfect  specimens.     One  of  the  types  is  distinguished  by  the  hair  being 
held  together  by  a  string  of  beads  instead  of  the  cord. 


216  UNITED    STATES 


Cent. 


The  design  the  same,  with  two  types  and  four  varieties,  and  the  number 

1838.  coined  was  6,370,200.     They  were  perfectly  milled,  the  copper  was  hard,  and 
hence  they  are  found  in  a  prime  state  of  preservation.     The  types  may  be 

designated  by  the  cord  and  beads. 

■  {  ,  'I '  • ' 

Cent. 

Of  this  coinage,  amounting  in  number  to  3,128,661,  there  were  four  types 

1839.  and  seven  varieties.     The  design  the  same,  upon  the  two  first  types,  as  in  the 
preceding  year,  having  on  them  the  cord  and  beads.     In  the  third  type  there 

is  a  somewhat  different  arrangement  of  the  hair,  which  gives  to  the  effigy  a  simple 
expression.  Here,  for  the  first  time,  both  the  dot  under  the  ONE,  and  the  line  under 
CENT,  are  omitted,  which  shows  that  this  type  was  issued  last.  In  the  fourth  type, 
the  head  is  smaller  than  in  the  others.  Still  another  has  been  claimed  for  this  year's 
coinage,  but  our  examination  makes  the  variation  so  slight,  that  we  class  it  among  the 
varieties.  Of  the  two  first  types,  specimens  are  easily  obtained,  but  of  the  third,  it  is 
not  so,  as  we  know  of  but  four  specimens,  with  one  exception,  that  can  be  considered 
as  fair,  and  that  is  now  in  the  possession  of  J.  J.  Mickley,  Esq.  The  fourth  type  is 
quite  plenty,  but  soft,  poorly  milled,  and  difficult  to  be  found  good. 

(Size  8.     See  Plate  XVII.     Figures  13,  14,  and  15.) 

Cent. 

The  design  the  same  as  the  fourth  type  of  the  preceding  year,  with  one  type 

1840.  and  five  varieties,  and  the  number  coined  was  2,462,700.     These  cents  are 
composed  of  fine  copper,  hence  they  are  much  worn.     They  were  esteemed 

very  highly,  as  were  the  issues  of  1840,  '41,  '42  and  43,  by  the  silver-smiths  for  alloy, 
which  has  aided  in  rendering  them  scarce.  It  is  very  unusual  to  find  perfect  specimens. 
The  destruction  of  ancient  buildings  in  this  city,  has  been  the  source  to  us  of  rare  and 
valuable  specimens  of  the  years  above  mentioned. 

Half-Cent. 

1840.         The  design  the  same,  with  only  200  in  number  coined  as  proof  specimens. 
They  are  necessarily  very  rare. 

(Size  6.     See  Plate  XVII.,  Figure  24.) 


UNITED    STATES.  217 


Cent. 


•-a 


The  design  the  same,  with  one  type  and  two  varieties,  and  the  number 
coined  was  1,597,367.    They  are  much  worn,  and  it  is  with  difficulty  that  good     1841. 
specimens  can  be  obtained. 

Half-Cents. — Only  a  small  number  coined  this  year  as  specimens. 

Cent. 

The  design  the  same,  with  one  type  and  four  varieties,  and  the  number 
coined  was  2,428,320.     Even  fair  specimens  are  scarce.  1842. 

Half-Cent. — The  coinage  limited  to  a  small  number  of  specimen  pieces. 

Cent. 

The  design  the  same,  with  one  type  and  three  varieties,  and  the  number 
coined  was  2,428,320.     Good  specimens  quite  rare.  1843. 

Half-Cents. — A  few  coined  as  in  preceding  years,  and  for  the  same  purpose. 

Cent. 

The  design  the  same,  with  one  type  and  three  varieties,  and  the  amount 
coined  was  2,398,752.     Good  specimens  of  this  emission  are  very  scarce.  1844. 

Half-Cent. — A  merely  nominal  coinage — a  few  specimens. 

Cent. 

The  design  the  same,  with  one  type  and  four  varieties,  and  the  number 
coined  was  3,894,804.     Specimens,  that  have  been  at  all  well  preserved,  very     1845. 
scarce. 

Half-Cent. — A  few  coined  only,  as  for  several  years  past. 

Cent. 

The  design  the  same,  with  one  type  and  eight  varieties,  and  the  amount 
coined  was  4,120,800.     Good  specimens  very  rare.  1846. 

Half-Cent. — The  emission  of  this  year  the  same  as  the  previous  one. 

Cent. 

The  design  the  same,  with  one  type  and  five  varieties,  and  the  number 
coined  was  6,183,669.    Good  specimens  scarce,  notwithstanding  the  large  issue.     1847. 
Half-Cent. — A  very  limited  number  coined  as  usual. 
28 


218  UNITED    STATES. 

Cent. 

The  design  the  same,  with  one  type  and   six  varieties,  and  the  number 

1848.  coined  was  6,415,799.     Good  specimens  are  scarce. 

Half-Cent. — The  coinage,  merely  a  few  specimens. 

Cent. 

The  design  the  same,  with   one  type  and  six  varieties,  and  the  number 

1849.  coined  was  4,178,500.     The  material  of  which  these  cents  were  coined  was 
harder,  and  the  specimens  are  consequently  better  preserved. 

Half-Cent. 

The  design  the  same  as  the  cent,  with  one  type  and  two  varieties,  and  the 

1849.  amount  coined  was  39,864.     This  issue,  though  of  some  magnitude  compared 
with  the  issues  for  the  past  twelve  years,  is  fast  disappearing,  and  will  soon 

become  rare  except  in  the  cabinets  of  collectors. 

Cent. 

1850.  The  design  the  same,  with  one  type  and  five  varieties,  and  the  number 
coined  was  4,426,844.     Good  specimens  plenty. 

Half-Cent. 

The  design  the  same,  with  one  type  and  two  varieties,  and  the  number 

1850.  coined  was  39,812.    This  emission,  like  the  previous  of  the  same  denomination, 
is  rapidly  disappearing  from  the  public  view. 

Cent. 

1851.  The  design  the  same,  with  one  type  and  six  varieties,  and   the   number 
coined  was  9,889,707.     Good  specimens,  of  course,  at  this  time,  are  plenty. 

Half-Cent. 

1851.         The  design  the  same,  with  one  type  and  three  varieties,  and  the  number 
coined  was  147,672.     Good  specimens  plenty  at  present. 


PLATE  XVII 


,N  Uosrnlhal.l.illi  riiii.i.)' 


UNITED    STATES.  219 

Cent. 

The  design  the  same,  with  one  type  and  six  varieties,  and  the   number 
coined  was  5,063,094.     Plenty  and  good.  1852. 

Half-Cent. — Only  proofs,  which  command  a  high  premium. 

Cent. 

The  design  the  same,  with  one  type  and  nine  varieties,  and  the  number 
coined  was  6,641,131.     Specimens  plenty,  but  much   defaced,  owing  to  the     1853. 
softness  of  the  copper. 

Half-Cent. 

The  design  the  same,  with  one  type  and  two  varieties,  and  the  number 
coined  129,694.     Specimens  good  and  plenty.  1853. 

Cent. 

The  design    the   same,  with  one  type  and  ten  varieties,  and  the  number 
coined  was  4,236,156.     Copper  soft,  hence  defaced.  1854. 

Half-Cent. 

The  design  the  same,  with  one  type   and  two  varieties,  and  the  number 
coined  was  55,358.     Getting  to  be  scarce.  1854. 

Cent. 

The  design  the  same,  with  one  type  and  nine  varieties,  and  the  number 
coined  was  1,574,829.     One  of  the  varieties  made  by  a  defective  die,  which     1855. 
shows  itself  above  the  ear  of  the  effigy.     Plenty. 

Half-Cent. 

The  design  the  same,  with  one  type  and  two  varieties,  and  the  number 
coined  was  56,500.     Not  very  plenty.  1856. 

Cent. 

The  design  the  same,  with  one  type  and  seven  varieties,  and  the  number 
coined  was  2,690,463.     Plenty  of  this  emission.     The  nickel  cent,  one  type     1856. 
and  variety,  issued  as  a  specimen,  is  now  quite  rare. 


220  UNITED    STATES. 

Half-Cent. 

1856.  The  design  the  same,  with  one  type  and  variety,  and  the  number  coined  was 
40,430.     They  are  becoming  quite  scarce. 

Cent. 

The  design  the  same,  and  the  last  coinage  of  the  copper  cent.     The  number 

1857.  issued  was  small,  many  of  them  have  been  returned  to  the  Mint,  and  the 
demand,  by  collectors,  will  soon  make  them  rare. 

The  number  of  cents  coined  this  year,  of  both  nickel  and  copper,  was  6,333,456. 
The  Mint  reports  do  not  furnish  the  proportion  of  each.  We  suppose  the  greater 
number  were  of  nickel. 

Half-Cent. 

The  design  the  same,  and  the  coinage,  up  to  June  30th  of  this  year,  was 

1857.  35,180.     Private  initials  stamped  upon  this  issue  —  fame,  in  one  of  its  little 
phases,  identifying  itself  by  such  letters  upon  the  last  of  this  coinage.     Perfect 

specimens  will  soon  be  very  rare. 

Cent. 

The  Nickel  Cent ;  One  type  exclusively  coined  in  this  year,  but  the  number 

1858.  we  have  not  been  able  to  learn.    We  have  noticed  it  fully  and  more  particularly 
elsewhere. 

(Size  6.     See  Plate  XVIL,  Figure  16.) 


NORTH    CAROLINA    GOLD    COINS. 

The  States  of  North  Carolina,  Georgia,  and  Virginia,  at  one  time  attracted  much 
attention  on  account  of  their  gold  deposits;  but  since  the  discovery  of  gold  in 
California,  they  have  been  superseded  and  neglected.  The  enterprise  of  working  the 
gold  mines  of  these  States  was  never  very  marked ;  the  rich  gold  deposits  of  North 
Carolina  being  chiefly  developed  in  the  shape  of  millions  of  scrip,  manufactured  and 
issued  by  the  denizens  of  Wall  street.  New  York. 

With  views  of  profits,  proportioned  in  some  degree  to  the  cost  of  the  property 
before  it  became  expressed  by  corporation  values,  money  could  undoubtedly  be  made 
in  North  Carolina  and  the  other  auriferous  districts  we  have  named,  which  is  sustained 
by  cases  of  individual  enterprise  in  mining  and  coining. 


UNITED    STATES. 


221 


The  following  is  derived  from  the  works  of  Messrs.  Eckfeldt  and  Du  Bois.  "  In  the 
year  1830,  when  gold  began  to  be  raised,  the  project  was  set  on  foot  of  coining  it  so  to 
speak  '  at  the  pit's  mouth.'  Three  denominations  of  coin,  ten,  five,  and  two  and  a  half 
dollar  pieces  were  struck,  bearing  the  name  of  ^  Templeton  Reed,  Assayer,'  and  the 
designation,  '  Georgia  Gold.'  On  two  occasions  they  were  brought  to  this  mint  in 
quantities,  but  not  since  1831.  They  were  soon  discontinued,  and  probably  by  this 
time  are  forgotten  even  at  home.  The  following  is  the  weight,  assay,  and  value  of 
two  kinds  —  the  five  dollar  piece  has  not  been  tried. 


DKNOHINATION. 

WEIGHT. 

Grs. 

FINENESS. 

Thous. 

VALUE. 
D.      C. 

Piece  of  ten  dollars.^ 

Piece  of  two  and  a  half  dollars. 

248 
60.5 

942 
932 

1006 
243 

"  Mr.  Bechtler's  mint,  which  is  located  at  Rutherfordton,  North  Carolina,  is  of  much 
greater  importance.  Its  operations  were  commenced  in  1831,  the  coins  circulated 
freely  at  the  South  and  West,  but  are  rarely  seen  north  of  Washington. 

"  There  were  of  these  coins  two  series ;  the  first,  bearing  no  date,  but  issued  earlier 
than  1834,  of  the  three  denomination  of  five,  two  and  a  half,  and  one  dollar, 
professedly  20  carats  fine,  and  150  grains  to  the  piece  of  five  dollars.  The  second 
series  bears  the  date  of  1834.  In  that  year  there  was  an  important  reduction  of 
standards  in  the  national  gold  coins,  to  which  Mr.  Bechtler  conformed,  and  by  way 
of  distinction,  has  used  the  uniform  date  of  that  year  ever  since.  The  denominations 
were  the  same,  but  there  were  three  grades  of  fineness  and  weight ;  thus,  at  20  carats, 
the  five  dollar  piece  was  to  weigh  140  grains;  the  same  at  21  carats,  to  weigh  134 
grains ;  and  at  22  carats,  to  weigh  128  grains.^     The  pieces  of  20  carats  were  stamped 

*  North  Carolina  Gold,'  those  of  21  carats,  '  Carolina  Gold,'  and  those  of  22  carats, 

*  Georgia  Gold.'  It  is  probable  that  all  the  gold  was  the  product  of  North  Carolina, 
and  that  these  stamps  were  only  to  assist  in  indicating  the  different  qualities,  as  they 
were  generally  understood  in  that  region ;  Georgia  gold  being  usually  the  best,  and 
North  Carolina  the  poorest. 

*'  The  following  is  the  result  of  numerous  trials  of  these  coins  at  the  Mint. 

*  Our  eagle  of  that  date  would  be  worth  $  10 '66. 

*  "The  calculations  are  not  strict.  These  three  pieces  at  their  rates  would  be  worth,  by  the  law  of  1834, 
S5-02J,  65-04-i%,  and  $5-05,  respectively." 


222 


UNITED    STATES. 


Q 

PROFESSED 

K     ■ 

S  <n 

H 

VALUE        VARIATIONS 

DENOMINATION. 

FINENESS. 

°  2 

K    ffl 

2  » 

55 

PER 
DWT. 

IN 

FINENESS. 

VARIATIONS 

IN 

VALUE. 

t- 

^    D 

Grs. 

< 

K 

Grs. 

Thou. 

833 

D.    C.    M. 

C.    M. 

Thous. 

Five  dollar  piece,  before  1834. 

150 

20 

833 

148 

5.34 

86.6 

829  to  846 

$5.28  to  S5.39 

Five  dollar  piece,  since  1834.  1 
<' North  Carolina  gold."       J 

140 

20 

833 

139.8 

815 

4.90.7 

84.2 

813  to  819 

$4.89  to  $4.93 

Five  dollar  piece.    "  Carolina  ~l 

134 

21 

875 

134.4 

845 

4.89 

87.3 

833  to  S52 

$4.82  to  $4.93 

gold."                                     / 

Five  dollar  piece.    "  Georgia  1 
gold."                                  j 
Two  and  a  half.    "  N.  C.  gold.'' 

128 

22 

917 

127.6 

882 

4.84.6 

91.2 

856  to  899 

$4.70  to  $4.84 

70 

20 

833 

70 

819 

2.47 

84.6 

Two  and  a  half.     "  Georgia  ~1 
gold."                                   J 

64 

22 

917 

63.6 

872 

2.39 

90.1 

One  dollar.     «N.  C  gold." 

28 

20 

833 

27.6 

810 

96.2 

83.7 

804  to  816 

95^  to  97  cts. 

"  There  is  not  much  variation  in  the  weight,  but  the  fineness,  as  shown  above,  is 
exceedingly  irregular  and  inferior,  causing  an  average  loss  of  2i  per  cent,  on  the 
nominal  value.     A  safe  estimate  of  five  dollar  pieces  as  they  come  would  be  $4.84. 

"  The  North  Carolina  Mint,  formerly  conducted  by  C.  Bechtler,  passed  into  the 
hands  of  A.  Bechtler  subsequent  to  1842,  and  there  is  a  marked  difference  of  value 
between  the  C  and  A.  The  five  dollar  pieces  of  the  former  were  deficient  from  1  to 
6  per  cent,  upon  the  alleged  value,  averaging  three  per  cent.,  or  $4.85;  the  one  dollar 
pieces  were  worth  from  95J  to  97  cents.  The  five  dollar  pieces  of  the  latter  vary 
from  the  alleged  value  to  a  deficit  of  IJ  per  cent.  There  are  no  dates  on  the  coins 
however,  to  enable  us  to  mark  the  difference,  but  the  pieces  assayed  in  1843  were 
better  than  those  assayed  in  1849.  The  last  and  newest  lot  gave  $4.94  to  the  five 
dollar  piece.  As  Bechtler's  pieces  are  alloyed  with  silver,  they  will  produce  about  a 
half  of  one  per  cent,  more,  if  offered  in  sufficient  quantities.  The  dollars,  so  far  as 
tried,  are  two  per  cent,  below  their  nominal  value." 

(See  Plate  XVIII.,  Figures  15,  16,  and  17.) 


PLATE  XVIII. 


J.  M?.i>.-iith..l  Lull  I'Jjil.uW. 


UNITED    STATES.  228 


■■■~a 


CALIFORNIA    COINS. 

Soon  after  the  discovery  of  gold  in  California,  the  great  difficulty,  risk,  and  frequent 
losses,  consequent  upon  its  retention  or  transportation,  and  the  schemes  devised,  and 
often  successful,  for  cheating  the  miner,  relative  to  the  weight  or  fineness  of  the  product 
of  his  labor,  inaugurated  the  necessity  for  assaying  and  coining  there.  Thus  grew  up 
numerous  private  mints,  whose  coinage  was  characterized  by  skill,  honor,  and  remark- 
able enterprize. 

Messrs.  Eckfeldt  and  Du  Bois,  in  their  supplemental  work  of  1851,  to  their  Manual 
of  1842,  say :  "  The  number  of  private  mints  in  California,  as  indicated  by  specimens 
here,  is  fourteen.  Some  of  them  have  issued  but  a  single  denomination  of  coin,  others 
two,  and  the  Mormons  four.  Besides  these,  there  are  the  stamped  ingots  of  Moffatt 
&  Co.,  and  F.  D.  Kohler,  State  Assayer;  and,  lastly,  the  coin  of  Augustus  Humbert, 
an  United  States  assayer  under  a  legal  provision  of  1850. 

"  1.  The  coin  of  '  N.  G.  &  N.' — half-eagle — claims  to  be  full  weight,  and  it  is  proved 
by  a  number  of  trials,  that  the  variation  does  not  exceed  one  grain  in  any  case ;  but 
the  legend  on  the  reverse,  CALIFORNIA  GOLD  WITHOUT  ALLOY,  allows  a  pretty 
wide  range.  As  far  as  our  assays  go,  the  truth  of  this  stamp  is  proved ;  there  is  no 
alloy,  other  than  that  already  introduced  by  the  hand  of  nature,  and  which  is  generally 
more  than  sufficient.  Three  pieces  severally,  the  fineness  of  870,  880,  and  892  thou- 
sandths, were  within  the  scope  of  *  California  gold.'  They,  consequently,  are  worth 
$4.83,  $4.89,  and  $4.95i  respectively,  without  the  silver;  and  including  that,  2 J  cents 
more. 

"  The  coin  is  neatly  executed,  and,  besides  the  two  legends  above  quoted,  bears  an 
eagle,  a  circle  of  stars,  the  date  1849,  and  the  name  SAN  FRANCISCO. 
« (See  Plate  No.  XVIII.,  Fac  Simile  No.  7.) 

"  2.  The  mint  of  the  "  Oregon  Exchange  Company'  issued  two  denominations,  ten 
and  five  dollars.  They  respectively  profess  260  and  130  grains'  weight  of  ^native 
gold.'  One  five-dollar  piece  was  found  to  weigh  127J  grains,  was  878  thousandths 
fine,  and  contained  only  the  natural  alloy  :  resulting  value,  $4.82 ;  with  the  silver — in 
sufficiently  large  lots — 2i  cents  more. 

"  These  coins  are  not  well  struck,  but  are  pleasantly  distinguished  by  the  picture  of 
a  beaver,  a  good  emblem  of  mining  industry  and  of  Western  life. 

"  (See  Plate  No.  XVIII.,  Fac  Similes  Nos.  1  and  8.) 


224  UNITED    STATES. 

"  3.  The  mintage  of  the  '  Miners'  Bank  of  San  Francisco/  a  ten-dollar  piece  of  plain 

appearance.     The  average  weight  is  263i  grains,  the  fineness  about  865  thousandths; 

part  of  the  alloy  being  copper.     Average  value  $9.87,  with  a  risk  of  having  it  as  low 

as  $9.75. 

"  (See  Plate  No.  XIX.,  Fac  Simile  No.  12.) 

"4.  Coinage  of  MofFatt  &  Co.,  1849,  1850;  pieces  of  ten  and  five  dollars,  in  imita- 
tion of  the  national  coinage.  Several  of  the  coining  establishments  adopted  the  same 
device,  but  evidently  without  evil  intent,  as  most  of  the  coins  were  worth  what  they 
professed  to  be,  and  some  even  more.  The  fineness,  however,  is  in  every  case  inferior 
to  the  standard  of  the  Mint.  A  large  promiscuous  lot  of  both  kinds  of  MofFatt  &  Co.'s 
coins,  dates  1849,  1850,  showed  an  average  of  897;  average  weight  to  the  ten-dollar 
piece,  258i  grains;  average  value,  $9.97.7.  The  S.  M.  Y.  on  these  coins  is  said  to 
mean  '  Standard  Mint  Value.' 

"  (See  Plate  No.  XYIII.,  Fac  Similes  Nos.  2  and  12.) 

"  5.  Ten-dollar  piece  of  'J.  S.  0.' — said  to  be  Dr.  Ormsby,  of  Pennsylvania;  one  piece 
assayed  gave  842  fine;  weight,  258 J  grains;  value,  $9.37. 

"  (See  Plate  No.  XIX.,  Fac  Simile  No.  10.) 

"  6.  Twenty-five  and  ten-dollar  pieces  of  Templeton  Reed,  whose  name  appears  as 
assayer  upon  the  emissions  of  *  Georgia  Gold,'  in  North  Carolina,  in  1830;  weights, 
respectively,  649  and  260  grains.  These,  being  the  only  two  specimens  received  are 
still  in  the  Mint,  were  not  cut  for  assay,  but  appear  to  be  of  California  gold  without 
artificial  alloy.  Assuming  this,  the  value  would  be  about  $24.50  for  the  first,  and 
$9.75  for  the  second. 

''  (See  Plate  No.  XIX.,  Fac  Similes  Nos.  2  and  7.) 

*' 7.  Ten  and  five-dollar  pieces  of  the  'Cincinnati  Mining  and  Trading  Company,' 
1849.  These  have,  also,  not  been  cut,  on  account  of  their  rarity,  but  appear  to  be  of 
native  gold,  and  at  the  weights  of  258  and  132  grains,  may  be  rated  at  $9.70  and 
$4.95,  respectively. 

"  (See  Plates  Nos.  XVITI.  and  XIX.,  Fac  Similes  Nos.  4  and  4.) 

"8.  Ten  and  five-dollar  pieces  of  the  'Pacific  Company,'  1849;  very  irregular  in 
weight,  and  debased  in  fineness;  a  ten-dollar  piece  weighed  229  grains,  a  five-dollar 
piece  130;  assay  of  a  third,  797  thousandths.     At  those  rates,  the  larger  piece  would 
be  worth  $7.86,  the  smaller,  $4.48 ;  but  the  valuation  is  altogether  uncertain. 
"  (See  Plates  Nos.  XYIII.  and  XIX.,  Fac  Similes  Nos.  3  and  6.) 


UNITED    STATES.  225 

"  9.  Five-dollar  piece  of  the  '  Massachusetts  and  California  Company/  1849  ;  a  very 
pretty  coin,  but  apparently  debased  with  copper;  only  one  specimen;  it  weighed  115 J 
grains ;  has  not  been  assayed. 

''■  (See  Plate  No.  XVIII.,  Fac  Simile  No.  6.) 

"10.  Coins  of  Baldwin  &  Co.,  four  varieties:  1.  a  ten-dollar  piece,  1850,  distin- 
guished by  a  horse  and  his  rider,  with  a  lasso;  2.  twenty-dollar  piece;  3.  ten-dollar 
piece,  1851;  4.  five-dollar  piece,  1850;  the  last  two  in  imitation  of  United  States 
coinage.  Of  the  first,  one  piece  tried  weighed  263  grains;  fineness,  880;  value  $9.96. 
Of  the  second,  four  pieces  tried  varied  from  861  to  871 ;  average  fineness,  868i ; 
average  value  $19.33.  Of  the  third,  ten  pieces  averaged  259 J  grains;  average  fineness, 
870 ;  average  value,  972.  Of  the  fourth,  average  value,  $4.92.  These  coins  contain 
some  copper — about  twenty-thousandths. 

"  (See  Plates  Nos.  XVIII.  and  XIX.,  Fac  Similes  Nos.  10,  8,  3,  and  13.) 

"  11.  Ten  and  five-dollar  pieces  of  Dubosq  &  Co.,  1850 ;  also  in  imitation  of  the  National 
coinage.  The  larger  piece  averages  262  grains,  and  three  specimens  gave  the  fineness 
of  899 J,  which  is  a  mere  shade  below  standard;  consequent  value  $10.15.  A  single 
five-dollar  piece  yielded  $4.92 ;  but  a  mixed  parcel,  counting  a  thousand  dollars,  gave 
the  fineness  of  887,  and  the  close  value  of  $1000.20.  Consequently  the  pieces  may  be 
averaged  at  par. 

"  (See  Plates  XVIII.  and  XIX.,  Fac  Similes  Nos.  9  and  11.^ 

"12.  Five-dollar  pieces  of  Shultz  &  Co.,  1851.     Average  weight  1281  grains;  fine- 
ness of  three  pieces,  879  ;  value,  $4.97.4.    The  devices  in  imitation  of  United  States  coin. 
«  (See  Plate  No.  XVIII.,  Fac  Simile  No.  11.) 

"13.  The  Mormon  coinage,  although  executed  in  the  Territory  of  Utah,  is  classed 
among  the  California  coins,  being  in  the  neighborhood,  and  the  source  whence  the 
material  is  derived.  The  denominations  are  twenty,  ten,  five,  and  two  and  a  half 
dollar  pieces.  Although  there  is  much  irregularity  of  weight  and  fineness,  the  denomi- 
nations are  tolerably  in  proportion  to  each  other.  A  parcel  made  up  of  all  sizes,  and 
counting  $562.50,  yielded  at  the  Mint,  479.20;  say  $8.52  to  the  ten-dollar  piece.  The 
fineness  was  886. 

*•  (See  Plates  Nos.  XVIII.  and  XIX.,  Fac  Similes  Nos.  6,  14,  5,  and  9.) 

"  14.  Five-dollar  piece  of  Dunbar  &  Co.,  in  imitation  of  the  United  States  coin, 
lot  of  111  pieces  averages  131  grains  weight;  883  fineness;  value  $4.98, 
"  (See  Plate  No.  XVIII.,  Fac  Simile  No.  13.) 


UNITED    STATES. 

"15.  Fifty-dollar  piece  of  the  United  States  Assay  Office  at  San  Francisco,  estab- 
lished by  act  of  Congress  of  1850.  It  first  appeared  here  in  1851.  The  coin  was 
prepared  and  issued  by  Messrs.  Moffatt  &  Co.,  as  contractors,  and  bears  the  stamp  of 
Augustus  Humbert,  assayer.  The  two  professed  rates  of  fineness,  880  and  887  thou- 
sandths, are  found  upon  assay  here  to  be  fully  maintained,  whether  in  single  pieces  or 
large  quantities.  But  some  irregularity  in  the  weight  of  so  heavy  a  piece,  alloyed  with 
silver  only,  and  offering  eight  corners  to  wear,  is  to  be  expected.  When  presented  in 
quantities  sufficient  to  allow  for  parting  the  silver,  say  seventy  ounces,  the  average 
Mint  value  is  about  $50.10;  in  less  quantities,  the  silver  not  being  allowed  for,  the 
average  value  is  about  $49.90.  But  even  without  the  silver  they  occasionally  come  up 
to  the  full  value.  This  coinage  is  understood  to  have  put  a  stop  to  all  private  issues 
in  California. 

«  (See  Plates  No.  XVIII.  and  XIX.,  Fac  Similes  No.  18  and  1.) 

"  Ingots. 

«1.  The  ingots  of  Moff*att  &  Co.,  of  various  sizes,  from  about  $9.00  to  $260.00.  It 
may  be  stated,  in  general,  that  some  were  found  to  be  rated  too  high,  and  others  too 
low.     The  $16.00  ingot  yields  about  $15.75,  but  is  irregular. 

"  (See  Plate  No.  XVIII.,  Fac  Similes  No.  20  and  21.) 

"Bars. 

"  2.  The  issue  of  bars  by  F.  D.  Kohler,  assayer  of  the  State  of  California,  commenced 
in  May,  1850.  They  are  of  various  sizes,  from  about  $40  to  $150.  We  found  a  slight 
undervaluation  in  his  basis  of  calculation,  and  generally  an  error  of  assay  in  the  same 
direction  ;  so  that  on  an  average  his  bars  were  worth  at  the  Mint  one  per  cent.,  perhaps 
one  and  a  half  per  cent.,  more  than  the  value  stamped  upon  them. 
"  (See  Plate  No.  XVIII.,  Fac  Simile  No.  19.)" 

Dollar. 

.  This  coin  is  of  octagon  shape,  with  the  bust  of  the  Goddess  of  Liberty  for  a  device, 
around  which  are  eight  stars.  On  the  reverse  is  a  wreath,  in  which  are  the  denomina- 
tion 5oi^,  and  the  date,  1853. 

Legend.— GAIAFOn'NlA  GOLD    DERL 

Half-Dollar. 

This   piece   is  round,  with  the    same   device   of  the   previous  denomination,  and 
surrounded  by  thirteen  stars.    A  wreath  on  the  reverse,  within  which  is  the  date,  1852. 
Legend.— HALF-'DOL'LAR.     CALIFORNIA  GOLD. 


UNITED    STATES.  227 

Quarter-Dollar.  ^ 

The  device  on  this  is  the  same  as  that  upon  the  half-dollar,  with  a  wreath  on  the 
reverse  enclosing  the  denomination  wfru- 

(See  Plate  XIV.,  Figures  14,  15,  and  16.) 

These  pieces  conclude  our  task  of  describing,  and  presenting  representatives  of  the 
private  coining  enterprize  of  California ;  and  the  contrast  of  bars  and  ingots  with  these 
tiny  denominations,  covers  the  whole  ground  of  local  enterprise,  necessity  or  conve- 
nience—  indicating  the  powers  of  invention  of  the  race,  which  has  given  tone  and 
character  to  every  industrial  or  utilizing  feature  of  the  American  Union,  and  exhibiting 
an  adaptability  of  the  American  mind  to  any  condition  or  circumstances  in  which  the 
subject  of  it,  either  designedly  or  unpremeditatedly,  may  happen  to  be  placed. 

By  Act  of  Congress  of  July  3,  1852,  a  Branch  Mint  was  established  at  San  Francisco, 
California,  and  it  was  provided  therein,  that,  as  soon  as  said  Mint  went  into  operation, 
"  so  much  of  the  act  making  appropriations  for  the  civil  and  diplomatic  expenses  of  the 
government  for  the  year  ending  30th  June,  1851,  and  for  other  purposes,  as  provides 
for  the  appointment  of  an  United  States  Assayer,  and  the  contracting  for  the  assaying 
and  fixing  the  value  of  gold  in  grains  or  lumps,  and  for  forming  the  same  into  bars,  be, 
and  the  whole  of  the  clause,  containing  such  provisions,  shall  be  hereby  repealed." 

Thus  the  much  longer  continuance  of  the  temporary  expedients  of  the  government 
or  private  enterprize,  in  aid  of,  or  to  facilitate  the  operations  of  the  laborers  in  this 
vineyard  of  gold,  was  rendered  unnecessary,  by  being  superseded  by  a  new  law,  which 
promised,  what  has  since  been  accomplished  —  a  pleasing  and  profitable  subjection  to 
order. 

We  have  attempted  to  present  fac-similes,  in  an  acceptable  style,  of  the  coinage  of 
California,  as  in  a  few  years  it  will  be  a  matter  of  history ;  for  although  specimens  of 
the  same  may  be  found  in  the  National  Mint,  which  is  open  to  all,  still  we  must 
remember  that  it  is  convenient  of  access  but  to  a  few  of  the  many  millions  who  com- 
prise our  population,  and  feel  an  interest  in  whatever  there  has  been  that  is  either  rare 
or  curious. 

We  leave  the  reader  to  travel  in  imagination  to  where  the  gold  is  found ;  to  thus 
participate  in  the  processes  to  which  it  is  subjected — from  the  washing  of  the  dirt,  or 
the  grinding  of  the  quartz  that  contains  it,  to  its  vigilant  transportation,  in  chamois 
skins,  through  the  valleys  and  over  the  mountains,  till  it  is  deposited  with  the  United 
States  Assayer,  or  in  the  hands  of  those  who,  in  days  past,  converted  it  into  "  eagles'* 
and  "  half-eagles." 


228  UNITED    STATES. 

From  the  immense  discoveries  of  gold  within  the  last  ten  years,  that  period  of  time, 
in  the  history  of  the  world,  may  properly  be  denominated  the  era  of  gold ;  and  from 
the  first  discovery  of  the  auriferous  particles,  down  to  the  present  day,  the  energy  of 
man,  in  whatever  quarter  of  the  world  the  intelligence  relative  to  the  same  had 
penetrated,  has  been  directed  and  stimulated  to  general  physical  discovery ;  the  effect 
of  which,  in  the  future,  opens  a  wide  field  for  thought  and  calculation. 

Our  wonder  at  the  discoveries  of  gold  has  hardly  been  lulled  into  repose  by  the 
extraordinary  reality  of  the  past,  when  rumors  from  new  localities,  which  promise 
additional  and  inexhaustible  supplies,  are  thrust  upon  us,  to  stimulate  still  more  the 
enterprise  and  cupidity  of  man  for  gold — more  gold.  That  there  is  to  be — out  of  the 
general  order  of  knowledge  and  reasoning  in  regard  to  the  future  —  an  effect  of  all 
this,  upon  the  industrial  energies  of  mankind  and  the  progress  of  the  world,  we  think 
is  foreshadowed  —  a  mighty  impetus  to  be  given  to  everything  under  the  sun,  till 
material  development  —  the  hobby  of  mankind,  as  mankind  is  now  shaped  and 
directed  —  shall  equal  in  magnitude  the  results  of  physical  discovery  and  science. 

We  leave  to  the  casuist  and  Christian  philosopher  the  task  of  calculating  and 
foretelling  the  progress  of  the  human  mind  —  in  contradistinction  to  worldly  gain  — 
in  its  connection  with  the  foreshadowed  events  of  the  future.  That  the  laborer  in 
this  vocation  must  be  early  at  his  post,  and  vigilant  in  arranging  and  leading  on  his 
forces,  in  order  to  combat  successfully  with  "  Mammon"  in  the  human  affections,  and 
also  to  secure  some  of  the  laurels  with  which  he  is  proposing  to  crown  his  followers, 
requires  no  index  but  a  knowledge  of  the  past. 


PLATE  XIX 


L.X.Koswithal  LitliPliil 


i/: '.  I 


UNITED    STATES.  229 


■^ 


"PATTERN-PIECES." 

Following,  we  have  described  and  presented  fac-similes  of  the  various  "pattern- 
pieces"  gotten  up  by,  or  under  the  authority  of  our  government  and  rejected ;  and,  also, 
some  which  evidence  a  commendable  zeal  and  marked  progress  in  art  and  beauty,  and 
which  have  been  adopted,  or  are  to  make  their  appearance  as  part  of  our  currency. 
Comparing  our  coins,  however,  with  those  of  France,  England,  and  other  European 
governments,  we  must  conclude  that  there  is  still  room  for  emulation  and  improvement. 
To  the  naked  eye,  but  particularly  under  the  lens — to  illustrate — the  wreath  upon  the 
pieces,  issued  by  Napoleon  III.,  is  presented  with  all  the  perfection  and  beauty  of 
nature;  while  the  wreath  on  our  three-dollar  pieces  —  the  most  artistic  of  our  whole 
series  of  coins — appears,  in  comparison,  like  a  composition  stuck  on  the  same,  instead 
of  being  the  result  of  the  graver. 

Occupying,  as  a  nation,  equal  prominence  with  any  other  in  the  world  for  contigu- 
ously geographical  extent,  mineral  wealth,  agricultural  resources,  commerce,  and  —  as 
soon  as  we  can  harmonize  upon  the  policy  necessary  to  establish  and  protect  them  — 
manufactures  and  the  mechanic  arts;  with  no  slight  claims  to  science,  and  the  vitality 
that  gives  force  to  intellectual  and  physical  power ;  it  is  our  duty,  as  it  should  be  our 
laudable  ambition,  to  permit  no  nation  to  surpass  ours  in  works  either  of  utility  or  art 
—  nor  in  anything  else,  that  can  justly  be  made  to  redound  to  our  intelligence,  taste, 
skill,  energy,  enterprise,  or  prosperity. 

In  the  establishment  of  the  Mint,  President  Washington  took  so  deep  an  interest  as 
to  be  almost  a  daily  visitor  to  it.  On  one  occasion  he  brought  with  him  one  hundred 
dollars  in  bullion,  with  the  request  that  it  might  be  coined  into  7idlf-dism.es  ;  and,  from 
the  various  patterns  gotten  up  for  the  inspection  and  decision  of  the  government,  the 
following  was  selected  for  the  purpose. 

Device. — A  portrait  of  the  Goddess  of  Liberty,  hair  flowing  naturally,  and  facing  to 

the  left;  and  said  to  have  been  intended  for  Mrs.  Martha  Washington.  1792. 

Legend.— LJB.  PAR.  OF  SCIENCE  &  INDUSTRY. 
Exergue.— 11^2. 

Xe^enc?.— UNITED  STATES  OF  AMERICA. 
Exergue. — HALF  DISME.     Beneath  which  is  a  five-pointed  star. 

(Size  4.     See  Plate  XVI.,  Figure  3.) 


230  UNITED    STATES. 

This  coinage  was  not  intended  for  general  circulation,  but  was  a  private  enterprise 
of  Washington's,  and  distributed  by  him  among  his  friends  in  this  country  and  Europe. 
It  is  now  particularly  rare,  commands  a  large  price,  and  is  to  be  found  in  but  four 
cabinets  in  our  country. 

DiSMB. 

1792.         Device. — The  Goddess  of  Liberty,  facing  to  the  left,  with  the  hair  flowing  loosely. 
Legend.— Llim-RTY  PAEENT  OF  SCIENCE  &  INDUS. 
Exergue.— VIQ2. 

Reverse. — Eagle  volant, — in  the  centre  of  the  field. 
ie^m(i.— UNITED  STATES  OF  AMERICA. 
Exergue.— Dl^ME^. 

(Size  6.     See  Plate  Xin.,  Figure  9.) 

Cent. 

1792.         Device. — A  bust  of  the  Goddess  of  Liberty,  with  loosely  flowing  hair,  and  facing 
to  the  right. 
Legend.— Lm^B^TY  PARENT  OF  SCIENCE  &  INDUSTRY. 
Exergue.— Vl^2. 

Reverse. — A  wreath  inclosing  a  ring,  in  which  is  the  inscription  ONE  CENT. 
Legend.— V1^1TEI>  STATES  OF  AMERICA. 
Exergue. —  j^^ 

(Size  10.     See  Plate  XIIL,  Figure  7.) 

Nothing  but  the  modesty  of  our  fathers  could,  it  seems  to  us,  have  prevented  the 
adoption  of  this  coin ;  they,  perhaps,  thinking  it  was  too  early  a  period  in  the  history 
of  the  Republic,  to  proclaim  upon  their  currency,  what  has  since  been  exemplified,  that 
liberty  is  the  parent  of  science  and  industry.  For  if  science  does  not  particularly 
flourish  under  a  free  government,  the  freedom  of  thought  is  at  least  essential  to  its 
progress,  and  liberty  is  the  very  breath  of  industry. 

Cent. 

1792.        The  same  as  that  previously  described,  with  the  exception  of  the  legend — ^LIBERTY 
PARENT  OF  SCIENCE  &  INDUST : 

(Size  5.     See  Plate  XIIL,  Figure  10.) 

1792.         Another,  same  as  the  preceding,  except  that  a  round  piece  of  silver  is  inserted  in  the 
centre  of  the  field  —  the  letter  N  in  CENT,  being  stamped  on  the  silver  —  ^^rj. 
(Size  the  same.     See  Plate  XIII.,  Figure  11.) 


UNITED    STATES.  231 

These  pieces  being  about  the  size  of  the  half-cent,  the  insertion  of  the  small  piece 
of  silver  was  probably  to  give  it  the  standard  value  of  that  coin. 

Cent. 

Device. — A  bust,  whether  masculine  or  feminine,  it  would  be  difficult  to  determine, 

facing  right.  1792. 

ie^ent?.— LIBERTY. 
Exergue.— 11^2,. 
Reverse. — ^An  eagle  with  partially  expanded  wings,  standing  upon,  apparently,  the  upper 

portion  of  the  globe. 
Legend.— \]^YY1S1>  STATES  OF  AMERICA. 

(Size  8.     See  Plate  TTITT.,  Figure  13.) 

We  have  denominated  this  as  a  pattern-piece  for  a  cent,  in  the  absence  of  positive 
information  in  relation  to  the  purpose  for  which  it  was  gotten  up.  It  may  have  been 
designed  for  some  other  denomination,  however,  as  the  eagle  never  appeared  upon  the 
authorized  cent  of  the  Federal  government,  till  it  made  its  appearance  in  nickel. 

Pieces. 

Device. — An  eagle  with  wings  closed,  perched  upon  the  upper  portion  of  the  globe, 

apparently  in  meditation,  and  surveying,  at  the  same  time,  the  scene  from    1792. 
thence. 

(Size  7.     See  Plate  XTTT.,  Figure  12.) 

Another :  the  device  being  an  eagle  with  expanded  wings,  as  if  in  the  act 
of  alighting  upon  a  shield  presented  sideways. 

(Size  7.     See  Plate  XIIL,  Figure  15.) 
Neither  of  the  above  have  a  reverse. 

Dollar. 

There  were  one  type  and  two  varieties  of  this  pattern  or  trial-piece,  subse- 
quently adopted,  for  which  1836. 

(See  Plate  XVI.,  Figure  19.) 
There  was,  also,  a  pattern  piece  as  follows : 

Gold  Dollar. 

Device. — The  liberty-cap,  with  its  motto  LIBERTY,  in  the  centre  of  a  blaze  covering 

the  whole  field.  1836. 

Reverse. — A  palm  wreath  enclosing  the  numeral  I.,  under  which  is  D. 

Legend.— Jmm^'D  STATES  OF  AMERICA. 

Exergue. — 1836. 

(Size  3.     See  Plate  XIV.,  Figure  20.) 


232  UNITED    STATES. 

Dollar. 

1838.        The  device  the  same  as  of  this  denomination  of  1836.     The  thirteen  stars  placed 
around  the  edge  of  the  field. 

This  piece  is  extremely  rare  and  valuable  —  sixteen  only  having  been  struck  oflF. 
Also,  in  this  year,  a  half-dollar  with  four  varieties. 

In  this  year  there  were  two  types  and  four  varieties  struck  off —  one  with  an  eagle 

1838.  volant,  and  the  other  with  the  wings  extended.   They  are  both  very  rare  and  valuable, 
and  to  be  found  but  in  few  cabinets. 

Dollar  and  Half-dollar. 

1839.  Device. — The  eagle  with  expanded  wings,  &c.,  adopted  in  1840. 

(See  Plate  XY.,  Figures  7  and  9.) 

Double-Eagle. 

1849.         See  regular  description,  1850. 

(See  Plate  XIV.,  Figure  6. 

Three-Cent  Pieces. 

1849.        Device.— llhQ  Goddess  of  Liberty  seated,  &c.,  as  upon  half-dimes. 
Exergue. — 1849. 
Jieverse. — The  figure  3  in  the  centre  of  the  field. 

(Size  3.     See  Plate  XIII.,  Figure  22.) 

1849.  Device. — The  same  as  the  preceding. 
Exergue. — 1849. 

Jteverse. — The  numerals  HI. 

(Size  3.     See  Plate  XTTT.,  Figure  24.) 

1850.  Device. — The  liberty-cap  with  its  motto  LIBEIITY  in  the  centre  of  a  blaze  covering 

the  whole  field. 
Reverse. — A  palm  wreath  enclosing  the  numerals  III. 
Legend.— V^m^jy  STATES  OF  AMERICA. 
Exergue. — 1850. 

(Size  3.     See  Plate  XIII.,  Figure  23.) 


UNITED    STATES.  233 

Ring-Cent.  ^ 

Device. — On  the  upper  part  of  the  piece  the  inscription  CENT ;  midway,  each  side 

of  the  ring,  a  star.  1850. 

Exergue. — 1850. 

Reverse. — On  the  upper  part  of  the  piece  U.  S.  A. 
Legend.— 0^^  TENTH  SILVER. 

(Size  4.     See  Plate  XIII.,  Figure  21.) 

This  piece  is  a  flat  ring,  the  centre  being  open,  and  as  the  legend  shows  a  composition. 

Cent. 

Device. — The  Goddess  of  Liberty  seated,  &c.,  as  in  the  present  silver  currency.  1851. 

Exergue. — 1851. 

Reverse. — An  oak  wreath  inclosing  the  numeral  I.,  and  the  word  CENT  under  it. 

(Size  5.     See  Plate  XIII.,  Figure  20.) 

This  coin  was  also  a  composition. 

Gold-Ring-Dollar. 

Device. — A  wreath  crossing  at  the  lower  ends  and  extending  upward.   On  the  upper 

part  of  the  flat  circle  DOLLAR.  1852. 

Reverse. — A  serpentine  line  around  the  inner  edge  of  the  circle  —  the  centre  being 

open. 

Legend.— XmiTWd  STATES  OF  AMERICA. 

Exergue. — 1852. 

(Size  4.     See  Plate  XTV.,  Figure  17.) 

Another  type  with  a  wreath  around  the  inner  circle,  and  outside  of  that  the  legend 

UNITED  STATES  OF  AMERICA.  1852. 

(Size  4.) 

A  Gold  Ring  Half-Dollar.  —  Same  as  the  above. 

(Size  3.     See  Plate  XIV.,  Figure  18.) 

Silver  Ring-Dollar. 

Device. — A  series  of  seven  laurel  branches  around  the  circle,  each  of  which  bears 

two  berries.  1852. 

Reverse. — U.  S.  A.,  on  the  upper  portion  of  the  circle. 

Exergue. — 1852. 

(Size  4.     See  Plate  XIV.,  Figure  19.) 

In  silver,  but  intended  as  a  pattern  for  a  gold  dollar. 
30 


234  UNITED    STATES. 

Cent. 

1853.  Device. — The  Goddess  of  Liberty,  with  a  fillet  around  the  head  bearing  the  motto 

LIBERTY — with  thirteen  stars  around  the  field. 
Exergue. — 1853. 

Beverse. — A  laurel  wreath  enclosing  the  words  OKE  CENT. 
(Size  4.     See  Plate  XIIL,  Figure  17.) 

Cent. 

1854.  The  designs  the  same  as  the  last  emission  of  the  copper  cents,  except  that  the 

thirteen  stars  surrounding  the  first  are  omitted. 

Exergue. — 1854. 

(Size  7.     See  Plate  XIIL,  Figure  16.) 

This  pattern-cent  is  about  two-thirds  the  size  of  the  ordinary  cent,  and  exceedingly 
well  executed. 

Cent. 

1855.  Device. — The  eagle,  volant,  with  thirteen  stars  around  the  edge  of  the  field. 
Exergue. — 1855. 

Reverse. — The  same  as  on  the  last  emission  of  the  copper  cents. 
(Size  7.     See  Plate  XIIL,  Figure  8). 

This  cent  is  composed  of  copper  and  nickel  in  such  proportions  as  to  give  it  a  brassy 
appearance. 

Cents. 

1866.        The  nickel  —  since  adopted. 

Another :  the  designs  the  same  as  upon  the  latest  copper  cents,  and  struck  off  from 
the  die  of  the  half-cent  —  the  size  6. 

This  piece  was  a  composition  of  copper  and  nickel,  in  such  proportions  as  to  give  it 
nearly  the  tint  of  gold. 

Half-Dollar. 

1858.        Device. — The  Goddess  of  Liberty,  &c.,  as  upon  that  denomination  of  coin. 

Reverse. — An  eagle  with  expanded  wings ;  upon  its  breast  a  shield,  and  falling  over 
the   same,  from  the  beak   of  the   eagle  is  a  scroll  bearing  the  motto 
E  PLURIBirS  IFNUM.     In  its  talons  the  laurel  branch  and  arrows. 
Legend.— Tmii:m)  STATES  OF  AMERICA. 
Exergue.— RKLF  DOLLAR. 

(Size  9.     See  Plate  XIIL,  Figure  14.) 


UNITED    STATES.  236 

After  a  long  suspension  —  broken  only  by  its  adoption  upon  the  double-eagle  —  the 
motto  "E  PLURIBUS  UNUM,"  is  revived  upon  this  beautiful  piece  by  Hon.  James 
Ross  Snowden,  the  present  Director  of  the  Mint.  Its  adoption  will  be  hailed  with 
gratification  by  the  people,  who  yielded  reluctantly  to  the  change  that  gave  them  a 
symbol  without  it. 

Cent. 

Device. — The  head  of  an  Indian  princess.  1858. 

Legend.— \nSlTl^J)  STATES  OF  AMERICA. 
Exergue. — 1858. 

Reverse. — An  oak  wreath,  meeting  at  the  top  a  shield  surrounded  by  a  scroll,  and  enclosing 
the  denomination  ONE  CENT. 

(Size  4.     See  Plate  XTH.,  Figure  18.) 

For  this  decided  improvement  of  design  and  workmanship  upon  the  cent,  we  are 
also  indebted  to  the  present  Director  of  the  Mint,  who  in  this  piece,  and  the  dollar  and 
three-dollar  pieces  of  1854,  has  already  departed  from  the  track  so  long  trodden  by 
his  predecessors ;  —  thus  affording  evidences  of  a  spirit  of  progress  which  cannot  but 
redound  to  his  own  reputation  and  the  honor  of  the  government. 

Steam-'Coinage. 

Device. — The   liberty-cap  with  its  motto  LIBERTY,  in  the   centre  of  a  blaze 

covering  the  whole  field.  1836. 

Bevene.  —  A.    circle    containing    the    inscription  —  FIRST    STEAM-COINAGE 

MARCH  23. 
Legend.— []^lTmy  STATES  MINT. 
Exergue.— l^^Q. 

This  piece  was  issued  in  copper,  to  commemorate  the  application  of  steam-power  to 
coining. 

"  FeUOHTW ANGER   CeNT." 

Device. — An  eagle  strangling  with  its  talons,  a  serpent.  1837. 

Exergue.— 1%2,1. 

Reverse. — A  wreath  enclosing  the  denomination  ONE  CENT. 

Le^m(^.— FEUCHTWANGER'S  COMPOSITION. 

(Size  5.     See  Plate  XHI.,  Figure  19.) 

This  was  gotten  up  as  a  specimen  of  a  composition ;  submitted  to  the  government 
for  its  consideration,  and  rejected.  If  in  a  coin  of  so  small  value  as  a  cent,  it  were 
desirable  to  consult  cleanliness  and  durability,  this  composition  would  have  subserved 


236  UNITED    STATES. 

the  purpose,  as  it  will  neither  corrode  nor  wear ;  the  piece  from  which  we  take  the 
foregoing  description  being  as  bright  and  perfect  as  on  the  day  it  was  issued. 

The  distinguished  metallurgist  and  chemist  whose  name  it  bears,  may  console 
himself  for  its  rejection,  with  the  reflection  that  his  effort  to  serve  the  government  was 
a  creditable,  if  not  a  successful  one. 

Having  completed  the  task  of  presenting  to  the  public  whatever  there  has  been  that 
is  antiquated  or  rare,  as  well  as  that  which  now  exists  in  the  metallic  money  of  our 
country,  and  with  as  much  diversity  and  adornment  of  description  as  the  subject- 
matter  would  permit,  we  submit  this  work  with  the  hope  that  charity  will  cover  up 
the  short-comings  and  defects  which,  in  all  probability,  exist  in  this  our  effort. 

In  our  thoughts  and  deductions  we  have  felt  nationally,  and  in  that  spirit — according 
to  our  comprehension — have  expressed  them;  but  with  no  purpose  to  excite  emotions 
incompatible  with  that  entire  freedom  of  opinion  we  have  exercised  for  ourselves. 


UNITED    STATES. 


237 


INDEX  OF  DATES,  DEGREES  OF  RARITY,  &c.,  OF  THE  GOLD,  SILVER, 

AND  COPPER  COINAGE. 


GOLD. 


1793 
1794 
1795 
1796 
1797 
1798 
1799 
1800 
1801 
1802 
1803 
1804 
1805 
1806 
1807 
1808 
1809 
1810 
1811 
1812 
1813 
1814 
1815 
1816 
1817 
1818 
1819 
1820 
1821 
1822 
1823 
1824 
1826 
1826 
1827 
1828 
1829 
1830 
1831 
1832 
1833 
1834 
1835 
1836 
1837 
1838 
1839 
1840 
1841 
1842 
1843 
1844 
1845 
1846 
1847 
1848 
1849 
1850 
1851 
1852 
186a 
1854 
1835 
185G 
1857 
1858 


•  • 


+ 
+ 
+ 
+ 
+ 
+ 
+ 
+ 
+ 


+ 

+ 

+ 

+ 

+ 

+ 

+ 

*■ 

+  •• 

+  •• 


+  •• 
+  •• 

+  .,, 
+  • 

+  . 
* 

+  • 

+ 

+  • 

+ 

+ 

+ 

+ 

+  . 

+ 

+ 

+ 

* 


+  • 

+ 

+  • 
+  ••. 
+  •• 
+  •• 
+ 

+  • 
+  • 
+  •• 
+  •• 
+ 

+  • 
+  • 
+  . 
+• 

X- 

+ 

+ 
+ 

+  : 
+ 

X' 

+ 

t: 

+  • 

X-' 

+ 
+ 

t:- 

+ 
+ 
+ 


'  •  • 


p  w 


+  •• 
+  •• 
+  •• 
* 


* 
+  . 
+  •• 
+  •• 
+  • 
+  • 


+  • 
+  • 
+  ••• 

+  •• 


+  • 
+  • 

+  •  • 
+  • 
+ 
+  •  • 

+  • 

+ 

+  • 
+  • 

+  ••• 
+  ••• 
+ 

+  • 

+ 
+  • 

+ 
+ 

+  • 
+ 

+ 
+ 
+ 
+ 

+ 


SILVER. 


+  ••• 

+  • 
+  • 

+ 
+ 

+  • 
+  • 
+  • 

* 


+  o, 


+  • 
+ 

+ 
+ 

+  . 
+  • 
+ 

+  • 
+  • 
+  • 

+  ••• 
+  ••• 
+  • 

+  • 
+  • 
+  . 
+  • 


+  • 
+  • 
+  ••• 

+  • 

+ 

+ 

+  • 

+ 

+ 

+  • 

+ 

+ 

+  • 

+  ••• 

* 

+  •  • 

+ 

+ 

+  • 

+ 

+ 

+ 

+ 

+ 

+ 

+ 

+ 

+ 

+ 

+  • 

+ 

+ 

+ 

+ 

+ 

+ 

+ 

+ 

+ 

X- 

+ 
+ 
+ 

+ 
+ 
+ 
+ 
+ 
+ 


* 


+  • 
+  • 

+ 


+ 
+ 
+ 
+ 

+  • 
+  • 
+  • 
+  • 


+  ••• 

+ 


+  • 

+  • 
+ 

+ 
+  • 

+ 

+  • 
+  • 
+  •• 
+  •• 
+ 

+  • 
+  . 
+  .. 

X:. 

+  • 
+  • 
+  • 
+  • 

+ 
+ 

+ 
+ 
+ 

+ 


+  . 
+  ••• 

+  • 


+  •• 
+  •• 
+  ••• 
+  ••• 
+  ••• 
+  • 


+  , 


+  • 
* 


+  • 
-t- 

+  •• 
+  • 
+  • 
+ 


+  •• 
+  . 


+  • 
+  •• 
+  •• 
+  •• 


•  • 


+ 

+ 

+ 

+  * 

+ 

+ 

+ 

+ 

+ 

+  • 

+ 

+ 

+ 

+  • 

+ 

+ 

+ 

+ 
+  • 

+ 
+ 
+ 
+ 
+ 
+ 
+ 
+ 
+ 
+ 


COPPER. 


+  • 

+  • 

+  • 

+ 

+ 

+  ••• 

+ 

+ 

+ 

+ 

+  ••• 

+  • 

+  • 

+  • 

X" 

X' 

X' 


+ 

+ 

+ 

+ 

+ 

+  • 

+ 

+ 
+ 
+ 
+ 
+ 
+ 
+ 
+ 
+ 
+ 
+ 
+ 
+ 
+ 
+ 
+ 
+ 
+ 
+ 
+ 
+ 

+ 
+ 
+ 
+ 
+ 
+ 
+ 
+ 
+ 
+ 
+ 
+ 


+  • 
+  • 
+  ••• 

+  • 


+  , 


+  •• 
<+ 
+ 
+  • 

+  • 
+  • 
+ 
+  • 


+  ••• 

+ 
+ 
+ 
+ 
+  ••• 


+  0, 
+  0, 
+  0, 

+  0, 
+  0, 
+  0, 
+  0, 
+  0, 
+  0, 

+ 
+ 
+ 

+ 
+ 
+  • 
+  • 
+  • 


-f  Coined. 
•  Scarce. 


:)f.  Coinage  reported  by  Mint 
•  •  Rnre. 


—  none  in  cabinet  collections. 


O  Trial  pieces. 
•  •  •  Very  rare. 


vT  Unique. 
Not  coined. 


238                                              UNITED    STATES. 

TYPES    AND  VARIETIES 

OF 

THE 

CENTS. 

Ed 

a 

H 

•< 

g 

S 

H 
P 
o 

PACING 

CM 

0? 

i-i 
BS 

> 

a 

PACING 

IB 

Sh 

H 

> 

1793 

Do. 

•  •  • 

... 

... 

Right. 

4 

6 

1824 

Do. 

Left. 

7 

IC 

... 

Do. 

... 

(( 

2 

21 

1825 

Do. 

a 

9 

CI 

Do. 

ii 

3 

1826 

Do. 

cc 

10 

1794 

Do. 

a 

26 

1827 

Do. 

a 

11 

1795 

Do. 

il 

2 

7 

1828 

Do. 

a 

10 

1796 

Do. 

ii 

8 

1829 

Do. 

a 

7 

(C 

Do. 

i 

9 

1830 

Do. 

cc 

9 

1797 

Do. 

(^ 

14 

1831 

Do. 

cc 

8 

1798 

Do. 

<( 

20 

1832 

Do. 

cc 

7 

1799 

Do. 

C( 

4 

1833 

Do. 

cc 

5 

1800 

Do. 

ii 

12 

1834 

Do. 

cc 

9 

1801 

Do. 

ii 

14 

1835 

Do. 

cc 

5 

1802 

Do. 

ii 

21 

1836 

Do. 

cc 

3 

1803 

Do. 

ii 

14 

1837 

Do. 

cc 

2 

8 

1804 

Do. 

ii 

6 

1838 

Do. 

cc 

2 

4 

1805 

Do. 

ii 

5 

1839 

Do. 

cc 

4 

7 

1806 

Do. 

ii 

6 

4 

1840 

Do. 

cc 

5 

1807 

Do. 

ii 

9 

1841 

Do. 

cc 

2 

1808 

Do. 

a 

1 

1842 

Do. 

li 

4 

Cl 

Do. 

Left. 

4 

1843 

Do. 

cc 

3 

1809 

Do. 

li 

4 

1844 

Do. 

cc 

3 

1810 

Do. 

(I 

7 

1845 

Do. 

cc 

4 

1811 

Do. 

li 

2 

6 

1846 

Do. 

.c 

8 

1812 

Do. 

ii 

9 

1847 

Do. 

cc 

5 

1813 

Do. 

tt 

5 

1848 

Do. 

cc 

5 

1814 

Do. 

cc 

6 

1849 

Do. 

cc 

6 

1816 

... 

Do. 

(I 

11 

1850 

Do. 

cc 

5 

1817 

Do. 

a 

22 

1851 

Do. 

cc 

6 

1818 

Do. 

a 

10 

1852 

Do. 

cc 

6 

1819 

Do. 

ii 

9 

1853 

Do. 

cc 

9 

1820 

Do. 

a 

14 

1854 

Do. 

cc 

10 

1821 

Do. 

a 

5 

1855 

Do. 

iC 

9 

1822 

Do. 

cc 

9 

1856 

Do. 

cc 

7 

1823 

— 



Do. 

cc 

3 

1857 

Do. 

cc 

2 

3 

1 

UNITED    STATES. 

239 

TYPES    AND  VARIETIES    OF 

THE  HALF-CENTS. 

0< 

H 

■< 

PS 

rAcrao 

m 
H 

P4 

TBS. 

^ 

S 

PAOJWO 

5 

o 

s 

& 

D 

(h 

;< 

•^ 

^ 

< 

0 

>A 

C3 

EH 

en 

>■ 

n 

£ 

fn 

t" 

1793 

Do. 

Left. 

6 

1840 

Do. 

Left. 

1794 

Do. 

Right. 

5 

1841 

Do. 

a 

1795 

Do. 

a 

4 

1842 

Do. 

(( 

1796 

Do. 

t( 

2 

1843 

Do. 

u 

1797 

Do. 

u 

4 

1844 

Do. 

u 

1800 

Do. 

11 

2 

1845 

Do. 

(( 

1802 

Do. 

(( 

2 

1846 

Do. 

ti 

1803 

Do. 

(I 

2 

1847 

Do. 

« 

1804 

Do. 

a 

5 

1848 

Do. 

(I 

1805 

Do. 

<{ 

4 

1849 

Do. 

u 

3 

1806 

Do. 

a 

2 

1850 

Do. 

u 

2 

1807 

Do. 

(I 

4 

1851 

Do. 

u 

3 

1808 

Do. 

(I 

3 

1852 

Do. 

u 

1 

1809 

Do. 

Left. 

8 

1853 

Do. 

(I 

2 

1810 

Do. 

K 

4 

1854 

Do. 

u 

2 

1811 

Do. 

(C 

2 

1855 

Do. 

CI 

2 

1825 

Do. 

11 

3 

1856 

Do. 

(( 

1 

1826 

Do. 

(( 

4 

1857 

Do. 

t( 

2 

1828 

Do. 

« 

5 

1829 

Do. 

(I 

3 

1831 

Do. 

« 

1 

1832 

Do. 

11 

4 

1833 

Do. 

U 

2 

1834 

Do. 

(( 

3 

1835 

Do. 

It 

4 

1836 

Do. 

iC 

2 

1 

240  UNITED    STATES. 


DIKECTOKS    OF    THE    MINT. 


1.  David  Kittenhouse  (the  eminent  Philosopher),  July,  1792,  to  July,  1795. 

2.  Henry  William  De  Saussere  {vice  Mr.  Rittenhouse,  resigned),  July  11th,  to  October  28th, 

1795  (afterwards,  and  for  many  years.  Chancellor  of  South  Carolina). 

3.  Elias  Boudinot  (in  place  of  Judge  De  Saussere,  resigned),  October,  1795,  to  July,  1805 

(previously  President  of  Congress  under  the  Confederation). 

4.  Egbert  Patterson  (on  the  resignation  of  Dr.  Boudinot),  July,  1805,  to  July,  1824  (Yice- 

Provost  of  the  University  of  Pennsylvania,  and  President  of  American  Philosophical 
Society). 

5.  Dr.  Samuel  Moore  (in  place  of  Mr.  Patterson,  deceased),  July,  1824,  to  July,  1835  (member 

of  Congress  from  Bucks  County,  Pa.). 

6.  Dr.  Egbert  M.  Patterson  (on  the  resignation  of  Dr.  Moore),  July,  1835,  to  July,  1851 

(Professor  of  Natural  Philosophy  in  University  of  Virginia,  and  President  of  American 
Philosophical  Society). 

7.  Dr.  George  N.  Eckert  {vice  Dr.  Patterson,  resigned),  July,  1851,  to  April,  1853  (member 

of  Congress  from  Lebanon  County,  Pa.). 

8.  Thomas  M.  Pettit  (in  place  of  Dr.  Eckert,  resigned),  April  to  June,  1853  (Judge  of  District 

Court,  Philadelphia). 

9.  The  present  incumbent,  James   Egss   Sngwden  (previously  Speaker  of  the   House  of 

Eepresentatives  of  Pennsylvania,  Treasurer  of  Pennsylvania,  and  Treasurer  of  the  Mint), 
was  appointed  in  June,  1853,  in  the  place  of  Judge  Pettit,  who  died  on  the  3l8t  of  May 
in  that  year,  having  held  the  office  of  Director  but  a  few  weeks. 


UNITED    STATES. 


241 


TAEULAR    STATEMENT 


OP    THE    AMOUNT    OP 


COINAGE  AT  THE  MINT  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES 


SINCE  THE    COMMENCEMENT    OF    ITS    OPERATIONS. 


GOLD    COINAGE. 


DATE. 


DOUBLE  EAGLE 
PIECES. 


1793 
1794 
1795 
1796 
1797 
1798 
1799 
1800 
1801 
1802 
1803 
1804 
1805 
1806 
1807 
1808 
1809 
1810 
1811 
1812 
1813 
1814 
1815 
1816 
1817 
1818 


EAQLE  PIECES. 


HALF  E.'^GLE 
PIECES. 


2,795 

6,934 

8,323 

7,974 

17,483 

25,965 

29,254 

15,090 

8,979 

9,795 


8,707 

6,196 

3,609 

24,867 

7,451 

11,622 

26,006 

53,170 

33,506 

30,475 

33,183 

64,093 

84,093 

55,578 

33,875 

100,287 

99,581 

58,087 

95,428 

15,454 

635 


48,588 


THREE  DOLLAR 
PIECES. 


QUARTER  EAGLE 
PIECES. 


963 
859 
614 
480 


2,612 
423 
3,327 
1,781 
1,616 
6,812 
2,710 


DOLLAR  PIECES. 


OL 


242 


UNITED    STATES. 


GOLD    COINAGE  — Continued, 


DATE. 

1819 
1820 
1821 
1822 
1823 
1824 
1825 
1826 
1827 
1828 
1829 
1830 
1831 
1832 
1833 
1834 
1835 
1836 
1837 
1838 
1839 
1840 
1841 
1842 
1843 
1844 
1845 
1846 
1847 
1848 
1849 
1850 
1851 
1852 
1853 
1854 
1855 
1856 
1857' 


DOUBLE  EAGLE 
PIECES. 


1,170,261 

2,087,155 

2,053,026 

1,261,326 

757,899 

364,666 

329,878 

98,315 


EAGLE  PIECES. 


7,200 

38,248 

47,338 

63,131 

81,507 

250,624 

125,061 

73,653 

101,875 

1,433,764 

145,484 

653,618 

291,451 

176,328 

263,106 

201,253 

54,250 

121,701 

60,490 

2,916 


HALF  EAGLE 
PIECES. 


51,723 

263,806 

34,641 

17,796 

14,485 

17,340 

'  29,060 

18,069 

24,913 

28,029 

57,442 

126,351 

140,594 

157,487 

193,630 

732,169 

371,534 

553,147 

207,121 

286,588 

118,143 

137,382 

15,833 

27,578 

855,085 

817,583 

548,728 

547,231 

1,080,337 

267,775 

133,070 

64,491 

377,505 

573,901 

305,770 

160,675 

117,098 

197,990 

69,115 


THREE  DOLLAR 
PIECES. 


138,618 

50,555 

26,010 

7,832 


QUARTER  EAGLE 
PIECES. 


6,488 


2,600 

4,434 

760 

2,800 


3,403 

4,540 

4,520 

4,400 

4,160 

117,370 

131,402 

547,986 

45,080 

47,030 

27,021 

18,859 

2,823 

530,853 

35,738 

110,511 

110,709 

192,824 

8,886 

23,294 

252,923 

1,372,748 

1,159,681 

1,404,668 

596,258 

235,480 

384,240 

106,722 


DOLLAR  PIECES. 


688,567 

481,953 
3,317,671 
2,045,351 
4,076,051 
1,639,445 

758,269 
1,762,936 

578,356 


To  June  30th. 


UNITED    STATES. 


243 


SILVER    COINAGE 


DATE, 

1793 
1794 
1795 
1796 
1797 
1798 
1799 
1800 
1801 
1802 
1803 
1804 
1805 
1806 
1807 
1808 
1809 
1810 
1811 
1812 
1813 
1814 
1815 
1816 
1817 
1818 
1819 
1820 
1821 
1822 
1823 
1824 
1825 
1826 


DOLLARS. 

PIECES. 


204,791 

72,920 

7,776 

327,536 

423,515 

220,920 

54,454 

41,650 

66,064 

19,570 

321 


HALF-DOLLARS. 

PIECES. 


323,144 
3,918 


30,289 

29,890 

31,715 

156,519 

211,722 

839,576 

1,051,576 

1,368,600 

1,405,810 

1,276,276 

1,203,644 

1,628,059 

1,241,903 

1,039,075 

47,150 
1,215,567 
1,960,322 
2,208,000 
751,122 
1,305,797 
1,559,573 
1,694,200 
3,504,954 
2,943,166 
4,004,180 


QUARTER-DOLL'S. 

PIECES. 


5,894 
252 


6,738 
121,394 
206,124 
220,643 


69,232 
20,003 

361,174 
144,000 
127,444 
216,851 
64,080 
17,800 

168,000 


DIMES. 

PIECES. 


22,135 
25,261 
27,550 

21,760 
34,640 
10,975 
33,040 
8,265 
120,780 

165,000 

44,710 

6,355 

65,180 


421,500 


942,587 

1,186,512 

100,000 

440,000 

510,000 


HALF-DIMES. 

PIECES. 


86,416 

10,230 
44,527 


24,000 
33,910 
13,010 
37,850 

15,600 


THREE  CENTS. 

PIECES. 


244 


UNITED    STATES. 


SILVER    COINAGE  — Continued. 


DATE. 
1827 

1828 
1829 
1830 
1831 
1832 
1833 
1834 
1835 
1836 
1837 
1838 
1839 
1840 
1841 
1842 
1843 
1844 
1845 
1846 
1847 
1848 
1849 
1850 
1851 
1852 
1853 
1854 
1855 
1856 
1857' 


DOLLARS. 

PIECES. 


1,000 

16 

300 

61,005 

173,000 

184,618 

165,100 

20,000 

24,500 

169,600 

140,750 

15,000 

62,600 

7,500 

1,300 

1,100 

46,110 

33,140 

26,000 

63,500 

94,000 


HALF-DOLLARS. 

PIECES. 


5,493,400 

3,075,200 

3,712,156 

4,764,800 

5,873,660 

4,797,000 

5,206,000 

6,412,004 

5,352,006 

6,546,200 

3,629,820 

3,546,000 

3,334,561 

1,435,008 

310,000 

2,012,764 

6,112,000 

3,771,000 

2,683,000 

4,514,000 

3,740,000 

580,000 

1,252,000 

227,000 

200,750 

77,130 

3,532,708 

2,982,000 

759,500 

938,000 

142,000 


QUARTER-DOLL'S. 

PIECES. 


4,000 
102,000 


398,000 

320,000 

156,000 

286,000 

1,952,000 

472,000 

252,400 

832,000 

491,146 

188,127 

120,000 

88,000 

1,613,600 

1,161,200 

922,000 

510,000 

1,102,000 

146,000 

340,000 

190,800 

160,000 

177,060 

15,254,220 

12,380,000 

2,857,000 

7,264,000 

2,304,000 


DIMES. 

PIECES. 


1,215,000 

125,000 

770,000 

510,000 

771,350 

522,500 

485,000 

635,000 

1,410,000 

1,190,000 

1,042,000 

1,992,500 

1,053,115 

1,358,580 

1,622,500 

1,887,500 

1,520,000 

72,500 

1,985,000 

31,000 

245,000 

451,500 

839,000 

1,931,500 

1,026,500 

1,535,500 

12,173,010 

4,470,000 

2,075,000 

5,780,000 

4,890,000 


HALF-DIMES. 

PIECES. 


THREE  CENTS. 

PIECES. 


1,230,000 
1,240,000 
1,242,700 

965,000 
1,370,000 
1,480,000 
2,760,000 
1,900,000 
2,276,000 
2,255,000 
1,069,150 
1,344,085 
1,150,000 

815,000 
1,165,000 

650,000 

1,565,000 

27,000 

1,274,000 

668,000 
1,309,000 

955,000 

781,000 
1,000,500 
13,345,020 
5,740,000 
1,750,000 
4,880,000 
3,940,000 


5,447,400 

18,663,500 

11,400,000 

671,000 

139,000 

1,458,000 


To  June  30th. 


1 

UNITED    STATES. 

245 

COPPER     COINAGE. 

RECAPITULATION. 

WHOLE  COINAGE  IN 

WHOLE  COINAGE  IN 

BATB. 

CENT  PIECES. 

HALF  CENT  PIECES. 

PIECES. 

VALUE. 

1793 

y  1,066,033 

1794 

142  534 

1,834,420 

$453,541.80 

1795 

1796 

974,700 

115,480 

1,219,370 

192,129.40 

1797 

897,510 

107,048 

1,095,165 

.  125,524.29 

1798 

979,700 

1,368,241 
1,365,681 

545,698.00 
645,906.68 

1799 

904,585 

12,167 

1800 

2,822,175 

211,5:30 

3,337,972 

571,335.40 

1801 

1,362,837 

1,571,390 
3,615,869 

510,956.37 
516,075.83 

1802 

3,435,100 

14,366 

1803 

2,471,353 

97,900 

2,780,830 

370,698.53 

1804 

756,838 

1,055,312 

2,046,839 

371,827.94 

1805 

941,116 

814,464 

2,260,361 

333,239.48 

1806 

348,000 

356,000 

1,815,409 

801,084  00 

1807 

727,221 

476,000 

2,731,345 

1,044,595.96 

1808 

1,109,000 

400,000 

2,935,888 

982,055.00 

1809 

222,867 

1,544,572 

2,861,834 

884,752.53 

1810 

1,458,500 

215,000 

3,056,418 

1,155,868.50 

1811 

218,025 

63,140 

1,649,570 

1,108,740.95 

1812 

1,075,500 

2,761,646 
1,755,331 

1  115  219  50 

1813 

418,000 

1,102,271.50 

642,535  80 

20  483  00 

1814 

357,830 

1,833,859 

1815 

69,867 
2,888,135 
5,163,967 

1816 

2,820,982 

56,785.57 
647,267.50 
1,345,064.50 
1,425,325.00 
1,864,786.20 
1,018,977.45 
915  509  80 

1817 

3,948,400 

1818 

3,167,000 

5,537,084 
5,074,723 
6,492,509 

1819 

2,671,000 

1820 

4,407,550 

'     1821 

389,000 

3,139,249 
3,813,788 
2,166,485 

1822 

2,072,339 

1823 

12,250 

967,975.00 

1 

246 

UNITED    STATES. 

-    ' 

COPPER    COINAGE      Continued 

RECAPITULATION. 

• 

PERIOD. 

CENT  PIECES, 

HALF  CENT  PIECES. 

WHOLE  COINAGE  IN 
PIECES. 

WHOLE  CURRENCY  IN 
VALUE. 

1824 
1825 
1826 
1827 
1828 
1829 
1830 
1831 
1832 
1833 
1834 
1835 
1836 
1837 
1838 
1839 
1840 
1841 
1842 
1843 
1844 
1845 
1846 
1847 
1848 
1849 
1850 
1851 
1852 
1853 
1854 
1855 
1856 
1857  > 

1,262,000 
1,461,100 
1,517,425 
2,357,732 
2,260,624 
1,414,500 
1,711,500 
3,359,260 
2,362,000 
2,739,000 
1,855,100 
3,878,400 
2,111,000 
5,558,300 
6,370,200 
3,128,661 
2,462,700 
1,597,367 
2,383,390 
2,428,320 
2,398,752 
3,894,804 
4,120,800 
6,183,669 
6,415,799 
4,178,500 
4,426,844 
9,889,707 
5,063,094 
6,641,131 
4,236,156 
1,574,829 
2,690,463 
6,333,456 

4,786,894 
5,178,760 
5,774,434 
9,097,845 
6,196,853 
7,674,501 
8,357,191 
11,792,284 

9,128,387 
10,307,790 
11,637,643 
15,996,342 
13,719,333 
13,010,721 
15,336,311 

9,260,345 
10,558,240 

8,811,968 
11,743,153 
14,640,582 

9,051,834 
11,806,196 
10,133,515 
15,392,344 

8,691,444 

9,519,513 
10,039,535 
24,985,736 
32,612,949 
69,775,537 
33,919,921 
10,885,619 
25,876,288 
18,602,020 

1,858,297.00 

1,735,894.00 

2,110,679.25 

3,024,342.32 

1,741,381.24 

2,306,875.50 

3,155,620.00 

3,923,473.60 

3,401,055.00 

3,765,710.00 

7,388,423.00 

5,668,667.00 

7,764,900.00 

3,299,898.00 

4,206,540.00 

3,576,467.61 

3,426,632.50 

2,240,321.17 

4,190,754.40 

11,967,830.70 

7,687,767.52 

5,668,595.54 

6,633,965.50 

22,657,671.69 

3,265,137.99 

8,913,266.32 

28,210,513.00 

52,689,878.43 

52,403,679.44 

60,111,249.72 

43,108,977.93 

12,045,952.93 

14,346,762.99 

4,737,691.60 

63,000 
234,000 

606,000 
487,000 

2,200 

154,000 
120,000 
141,000 
398,000 

39,864 

39,812 

147,672 

129,694 
55,358 
56,500 
40,430 
35,180 

To  June  30th. 


UNITED    STATES. 


24T 


COINAGE 


THE    UNITED    STATES    MINT. 

The  annexed  Table  shmos  the  Coinage  of  the  Mint  of  the  United  States  (and  the  Branches^  from  the 
commencement  of  their  operation  in  1838),  from  1793  to  the  close  of  1857. 


DATE. 


1793 

1794 

1795 

1796 

1797 

1798 

1799 

1800 

1801 

1802 

1803 

1804 

1805 

1806 

1807 

1808 

1809 

1810 

1811 

1812 

1813 

1814 

1815 

1816 

1817 

1818 

1819 

1820 

1821 

1822 

1823 

1824 


GOLD. 


■$71,485.00 

102,727.50 
103,422.50 
205,610.00 
213,285.00 
317,760.00 
422,570.00 
423,310.00 
258,377.50 
258,642.50 
170,365.50 
324,505.00 
437,495.00 
284,665.00 
169,375.00 
501,435.00 
497,905.00 
290,435.00 
477,140.00 
77,270.00 
3,175.00 


242,940.00 

258,615.00 

1,319,030.00 

189,325.00 

88,980.00 

72,425.00 

93,200.00 


SILVER. 


$370,683.80 

79,077.50 

12,591.45 

330,291.00 

423,51500 

224,296.00 

74,758.00 

58,343.00 

87,118.00 

100,340.50 

149,388.50 

471,319.00 

597,448.75 

684,300.00 

707,376.00 

638,773.50 

608,340.00 

814,029.50 

620,951.50 

561,687.50 

17,308.00 

28,575.75 

607,783.50 

1,070,454.50 

1,140,000.00 

501,680.70 

825,762.45 

805,806.50 

895,550.00 

1,752,477.00 


COPPER. 


$11,373.00 

10,324.40 

9,510.34 

9,797.00 

9,106.68 

29,279.40 

13,628.37 

34,422.83 

25,203.03 

12,844.94 

13,483.48 

5,260.00 

9,652  21 

13,090.00 

8,001.53 

15,660.00 

2,495.95 

10,755.00 

4,180.00 

3,578.30 

28,209.82 
39,484.00 
31,670.00- 
26,710.00 
44,075.50 
3,890.00 
20,723.39 

12,620.00 


WHOLE  COmAGE. 


NO.  OF   PIECES. 


TOTAL   VALUE. 


1,834,420 

1,219,370 
1,095,165 
1,368,241 
1,365,681 
3,337,972 
1,. 571, 390 
3,615,869 
2,780,830 
2,046,839 
2,260,361 
1,815,409 
2,731,345 
2,935,888 
2,861,834 
3,056,418 
1,649,570 
2,761,646 
1,755,331 
1,833,859 
69,867 
2,888,135 
5,163,967 
5,537,084 
5,074,723 
6,492,509 
3,139,249 
3,813,788 
2,166,485 
4,786,894 


$453,541.80 

192,129.40 

125,-524.29 

545,698.00 

645,906.68 

571,335.40 

510,956.37 

516,075.83 

370,698.53 

371,827.94 

333,239.48 

801,084.00 

1,044,595.96 

982,055.00 

884,752.53 

1,155,868.50 

1,108,740.95 

1,115,219.50 

1,102,271.50 

642,535.80 

20,483.00 

56,785.57 

647,276.50 

1,345,064.50 

1,425,325.00 

1,864,786.20 

1,018,977.45 

915,509.89 

967,975.00 

1,858,297.00 


248 


UNITED    STATES. 


COINAGE   OF   THE   UNITED   STATES   MINT  —  Continued. 


DATE. 


GOLD. 


1825 

1826 

1827 

1828 

1829 

1830 

1831 

1832 

1833 

1834 

1835 

1836 

1837 

1838 

1839 

1840 

1841 

1842 

1843 

1844 

1845 

1846 

1847 

1848 

1849 

1850 

1851 

1852 

1853 

1854 

1855 

1856 

1857 

to  June  30th, 

1858 


^156,385.00 

92,245.00 

131,565.00 

140,145.00 

295,717.50 

643,105.00 

714,270.00 

798,435.00 

978,550.00 

3,954,270.00 

2,186,175.00 

4,135,700.00 

1,148,305.00 

1,809,595.00 

1,355,885.00 

1,675,302.50 

1,091,597.50 

1,834,170.50 

8,108,797.50 

5,427,870.00 

3,756,447.50 

4,034,177.00 

20,221,385.00 

3,775,512.50 

9,038,414.50 

31,981,918.50 

62,614,492.50 

56,846,187.50 

55,213,906.94 

49,206,656.29 

32,353,643.57 

39,947,318.46 

^16,140,474.68 


SILVER. 


$429,684,090.94 


$1,564,583.00 
2,002,090.00 
2,869,200.00 
1,575,600.00 
1,994,578.00 
2,495,400.00 
3,175,600.00 
2,579,000.00 
2,759,000.00 
3,415,002.00 
3,443,003.00 
3,606,100.00 
2,096,010.00 
2,333,243.00 
2,189,296.00 
1,726,703.00 
1,132,750.00 
2,332,750.00 
3,834,750.00 
2,235,550.00 
1,873,200.00 
2,558,580.00 
2,374,450.00 
2,040,050.00 
2,114,950.00 
1,866,100.00 
774,397.00 
999,410.00 
9,077,571.00 
8,619,270.00 
3,501,245.00 
5,189,877.54 

3,222,327.46 


COPPER. 


$108,731,662.90 


$14,926.00 
16,344.25 
23,577.32 
25,636.24 
16,580.00 
17,115.00 
33,606.60 
23,620.00 
28,160.00 
19,151.00 
39,489.00 
23,100.00 
55,583.00 
63,702.00 
31,286.61 
24,627.00 
15,973.67 
23,833.90 
24,283.20 
23,977.52 
38,948.04 
41,208.00 
61,836.69 
64,157.99 
41,984.32 
44,467.50 
99,635.43 
50,630.94 
67,059.78 
42,638.35 
16,030.79 
27,106.78 

63,510.46 


WHOLE  COINAGE. 


NO.  OF    PIECES. 


$1,762,916.55 


5,178,760 

5,774,434 

9,097,845 

6,196,853 

7,674,501 

8,357,191 

11,792,284 

9,128,387 

10,307,790 

11,637,643 

15,996,342 

13,719,333 

13,010,721 

15,780,311 

11,811,594 

10,558,240 

8,811,968 

11,743,153 

4,640,582 

9,051,834 

1,806,196 

10,133,515 

15,392,344 

12,649,790 

12,666,659 

14,588,220 

28,701,958 

34,224,619 

76,484,062 

44,644,189 

16,991,595 

33,866,187 

19,437,767 


TOTAL   VALUE. 


$1,735,894.00 

2,110,679.25 

3,024,342.32 

1,741,381.24 

2,306,875.50 

3,155,620.00 

3,923,473.60 

3,401,055.00 

3,765,710.00 

7,388,423.00 

5,668,667.00 

7,764,900.00 

3,299,898.00 

4,206,540.00 

3,576,467.61 

3,426,632.50 

2,240,321.17 

4,190,754.40 

11,967,830.70 

7,687,397.52 

5,668,595.54 

6,633,965.00 

22,657,671.69 

5,879,720.49 

11,195,348.82 

33,892,486.00 

63,488,524.93 

67,896,228.44 

65,358,537.72 

57,868,564.64 

35,870,919.36. 

45,164,302.78 

19,426,312.60 


604,887,016    I  $540,078,670.39 


Assay  Office,  New  York,      52,191,443.33 
$592,270,113.72 


•-d 


INTRODUCTION  TO  THE  SUPPLEMENT. 


The  succeeding  pages  are  the  result  of  further  investigations  into  the  subject  of  this 
work,  which  I  have  thus  endeavored  to  render  as  complete,  instructive  and  interesting 
as  possible.  An  additional  plate  has  been  added,  illustrating  some  very  novel  coins, 
which  can  hardly  prove  to  be  otherwise  than  interesting  to  the  Numismatologist.  I 
have,  also,  added  the  t3rpes  of  others  by  additional  tables,  and  an  analysis  of  them, 
thus  embodying  and  presenting  increased  useful  matter,  and  throwing  additional  light 
upon  particular  coins. 

I  am  indebted  to  the  lovers  of  Numismatic  Science,  throughout  the  Union,  for  sug- 
gestions, corrections,  new  coins,  types  and  varieties ;  and  I  here  seize  the  opportunity 
to  acknowledge,  with  much  gratitude,  the  services  so  kindly  rendered  to  me. 

At  a  heavy  expense  of  time,  labor  and  means,  I  have  accomplished  what  has  pre- 
viously been,  and  is  now,  presented  in  this  work.  I,  therefore,  submit  its  merits  and 
value  to  the  Numismatologist,  curious  and  general  reader,  to  whom  I  again  make  my 

compliments. 

M.  W.  D. 


82  (249) 


MODEL    SAFE. 

Tke  accompanying  Plate,  representing  a  Model  Safe  of  mucli  artistic  merit  and 
beauty,  was  designed  and  is  manufactured  by  Messrs.  Evans  &  Watson,  Salamander 
Safe  Manufacturers,  No.  304  Chestnut  Street,  Philadelphia,  Pa. 

Appreciating  the  value  of  such  a  Safe,  perfectly  arranged  for  the  reception  and 
protection  of  coins  which,  in  the  event  of  loss,  cannot  be  replaced — ^many  in  our  cabinet 
collections  being  unique — I  have,  with  much  pleasure,  permitted  the  illustration  of  it 
to  occupy  a  page  in  this  work,  it  being  an  appropriate  accompaniment  of  its  subject- 
matter. 

Messrs.  Evans  &  Watson  enjoy  a  very  extended  reputation  as  Iron  Safe  manufac- 
turers, the  article  they  make  being  really  fire-proof,  and  equal  if  not  superior  to  any 
manufactured  in  the  world.  This  last  origination,  which  places  a  new  and  much- 
wanted  article  within  the  reach  of  those  requiring  such  an  adaptation  of  their 
mechanical  skill  and  integrity,  for  the  certain  preservation  of  what  the  Numismatist 
would  last  hazard  or  part  with  among  his  earthly  stores,  merits  the  thanks,  as  I  trust 
it  will  receive  the  patronage,  of  those  who  would  feel  secure  against  the  arts  of  the 
burglar,  as  well  as  the  devouring  element  of  fire.  It  can  be  made  capacious  enough  to 
permit  of  such  an  arrangement  as  to  render  it  valuable  as  a  depository  for  jewelry, 
silver-ware,  &c. ;  thus  combining  an  utility,  as  a  piece  of  household  furniture,  which 
will  make  it  particularly  desirable. 


(250) 


.^^'■'-  V" 


SUPPLEMENT 


TO   THE 


AMEKICAN    NUMISMATIC    MANUAL. 


Pine  Tree  Shilling. 


1652.        Device. — The  American  pine  tree  in  the  field,  surrounded  by  a  circle  of  dotB. 
ig^eni.— MASATVSETS. 

Reverse. — A  circle  of  dots ;  in  the  area  1652.,  and  under  it  the  numerals  X  H. 
Legend.— l^W^  ENGLA:^D  .  AN  .  DOM 

(Size  8.     See  Plate  XX.,  Figure  1.) 

Oak  Tree  Shilling. 

1652.        Device. — The  oak  tree  in  the  field,  surrounded  by  a  circle  of  dots. 
Legend.— MASATKYETS  IN. 

Reverse. — A  circle  of  dots ;  in  the  area  1652,  and  under  it  the  numerals  XTT. 
Legend.— KSiW  ENGLAND.  A  DO  •/'; 

(Size  8.     See  Plate  XX.,  Eigure  2.) 

These  very  curious  pieces,  added  to  those,  of  the  same  period  of  time,  I  have  illus- 
trated in  this  work,  show  that  the  people  of  the  then  province  were  far  from  being 
united  in  the  orthography  of  what  has  since  settled  down  to  be  Massachusetts. 

I  am  indebted  for  these  very  valuable  accessions  to  the  colonial  coinage,  to  Jeremiah 
Colburn,  Esq.,  of  Boston,  Mass.,  the  originals  of  which  are  in  his  collection;  and  I  can 
avail  myself  of  no  more  appropriate  time  or  place,  than  in  this  connection,  to  acknow- 
ledge my  indebtedness  to  him  for  the  aid  I  have  derived  from  his  general  intelligence^ 
and  critical  knowledge  of  Numismatics. 

Pine  Tree  Shilling. 

1652.        Device. — The  American  pine  tree  in  the  field,  surrounded  by  a  circle  of  dots. 
ie^ewc?.— MASSATVSETS  .  IN. 

Reverse. — A  circle  of  dots ;  in  the  area  1652.,  and  under  it  the  numerals  XH. 
Legend.— NEW  ENGLAND. 

JSize  5.     See  Plate  XX.,  Figure  4.) 

(251) 


252  SUPPLEMENT. 

This  piece  differs  from  all  others  of  the  Massachusetts  colonial  coins  I  have  seen, 
the  legend  of  the  obverse  being  " MASSATVSETS,"  and  the  reverse  "NEW  ENG- 
LAND." This  comes  from  its  old  home,  a  few  miles  only  from  where  the  Mint,  that 
gave  it  form  and  value,  stood.  I  am  indebted  for  it,  and  other  coins  noticed  in  this 
Supplement,  to  Dr.  Augustus  Shurtleff,  of  Brookline,  Mass.,  in  whose  collection  the 
originals  are  preserved. 

New  England  Copper 

Device. — Two  lions  rampant,  facing  right  and  left. 
Legend. — I  .V.     S  .  C. 
iJeverse.— Inscription,  NEW  ENGLAND. 
Exergue. — j\[ 

(Size  4.     See  Plate  XX.,  Figure  14.) 

This  curious  little  piece  is  in  the  cabinet  collection  of  Joseph  J.  Mickley,  Esq.,  of 
Philadelphia,  Pa.  The  description  and  the  fac-simile  convey  all  that  can  be  said  of 
it,  so  far  as  my  knowledge,  or  any  I  have  been  able  to  obtain  relative  to  it,  extends. 
Though  without  date,  it  is  antiquated  enough  in  design  and  execution  to  warrant  its 
being  placed  among  the  earliest  of  the  colonial  issues. 

Pine  Tree  Copper. 
1652.        Device. — The  American  pine  tree  in  the  field,  inclosed  in  a  circle  of  dots. 
X^^eni.— MASATHVSETS  IN  v.* 

Reverse. — 1652,  in  a  circle  of  dots,  with  the  numerals  X  II.  under  it. 
Legend.— K£:W  ENGLAD  AN  •  DO  V'; 

(Size  7.     See  Plate  XX.,  Figure  3.) 

This  unique  piece  carries  us  back  to  the  period  of  the  coinage  of  the  New  England 
shillings,  etc.,  bearing  the  same  date,  of  which  it  was  undoubtedly  a  cotemporary.  It 
bears  the  impress  of  being  a  genuine  origination  of  the  date  inscribed  upon  it,  though 
with  its  history  I  am  not  acquainted.  It  is  now  in  the  possession  of  John  H.  Curtis, 
Esq.,  of  New  York  city,  to  whom  I  am  indebted  for  the  fac-simile. 

"North  Carolina  Copper." 

Device. — A  small  heart-shaped  shield,  with  six  parallel  lines  across  it,  in  the  centre  of  the 

field,  and  surrounded  by  thirteen  five-pointed  stars. 
Beverae. — A  ship  under  full  sail. 

(Size  5.     See  Plate  XX.,  Figure  5.) 

In  the  beginning  of  the  present  century,  this  piece  was,  I  am  informed,  plentiful  in 


i.NKi'senlWMithriiila."' 


SUPPLEMENT.  253 

North  Carolina ;  having  no  knowledge  of  its  appearance  elsewhere,  I  have  given  it 
the  appellation  which  this  circumstance,  in  connection  with  it,  seemed  to  favor. 

New  York  Coppers. 

1786.  Device. — The  arms  of  the  State  of  New  York,  the  figures  of  Liberty  and  Justice 

supporting  the  shield,  surmounted  by  an  eagle. 
Reverse. — A  badly  designed  eagle  with  wings  partially  expanded,  the  beak  open, 
the  head  surrounded  by  thirteen  stars,  on  its  breast  a  shield,  an  olive 
branch  in  the  left  talon,  and  arrow  in  the  right. 
Legend.—^  E  ^  PLURIBUS  UNUM  ^ 
Exergue. — 1786. 

(Size  8.    See  Plate  XX.,  Figure  7.) 

1787.  Device. — The  arms  of  the  State  of  New  York,  the  figures  of  Liberty  and  Justice 

supporting  the  shield,  surmounted  by  an  eagle. 
Reverse. — A  badly  designed  eagle  with  wings  partially  expanded,  the  head  sur- 
rounded by  eleven  stars,  on  the  breast  a  shield,  an  olive  branch  in  the 
right  talon,  and  arrows  in  the  left.  ^ 

Legend.—^  E  ^  PLURIBUS  UNUM^ 
Exergue. — 1787. 

(Size  8.     Plate  XX.,  Figure  8.) 

These  issues  of  1786  and  *87,  bear  a  very  great  resemblance  to  each  other,  though 
an  examination  will  show  they  are  distinct  in  a  number  of  particulars.  The  work- 
manship of  these  pieces  is  very  inferior,  but  they  are  ^'^' y  rare. 

Nova  Constellatio. 

1786.        Device. — An  eye,  symbolical  of  supreme  power,  reflecting  its  rays  upon  thirteen 
six-pointed  stars,  emblematic  of  the  States  of  the  Confederacy. 
Legend.— EOY A  CONSTELLATIO. 
Reverse. — A  laurel  wreath  enclosing  the  letters  US. 
Xe^eni.— LEBERTAS  ET  JUSTITIA. 
Exergue. — 1786. 

(Size  8.     See  Plate  XX.,  Figure  16.) 

This  piece,  which  is  unique  so  far  as  my  knowledge,  or  any  I  have  been  able  to 
acquire,  extends,  is  in  the  collection  of  Dr.  Augustus  Shurtleff,  of  Brookline,  Mass. 
The  peculiarities  are  the  date,  and  the  capitals  U.S.,  which  in  every  other  piece  bear- 
ing the  legend  LIBERTAS  ET  JUSTITIA,  are  in  italics. 


254  SUPPLEMENT. 

Vermontis  Res  Publica. 

1785.  Device. — ^An  eye,  symbolical  of  supreme  power,  reflecting  its  rays  upon  thirteen 

six-pointed  stars,  emblematic  of  the  States  of  the  Confederacy. 

Legend.— (^TJKRTK  .  DECIMA  .  STELLA. 

Reverse. — The  sun  rising  from  behind  the  mountains ;  in  the  foreground  a  plow. 

Le^ewt?.— VERMONTIS  RES  PUBLICA. 

Exergue. — 1785. 

(Size  7.     See  Plate  XX.,  Figure  11.) 

This  piece,  in  the  opinion  of  many  very  familiar  with  colonial  coins,  had  no  exist- 
ence in  fact.  As  no  collection  in  this  city  contained  it,  and  I  had  never  seen  it,  nor 
been  advised  where  it  could  be  seen,  I  declined  illustrating  it  in  my  work.  The  ques- 
tion is,  however,  now  definitely  settled;  and  I  am  indebted  for  it,  and  the  fac-simile 
in  this  Supplement,  to  Dr.  Augustus  Shurtleff,  of  Brookline,  Mass.,  whose  cabinet  con- 
tains the  original  of  this  rarest  of  the  Vermont  copper  issues.  It  differs  from  the 
Vermonts  and  the  Vermontensium,  in  the  legend  extending  wholly  aromid  the  field 
of  the  coin. 

Nova  C^sarea. 

1786.  Device. — A  shield  in  the  shape  of  a  heart,  with  stripes  thereon,  running  longitudi- 

nally. 
Legend.—  *  E   *    PLURIBUS   *    UNUM. 
Reverse. — A  plow  surmounted  by  a  horse's  head. 
Legend.— EOY A  C^SAREA. 
Exergue. — 1786. 

(Size  7.    See  Plate  XX.,  Figure  15.) 

The  planchet  of  this  piece  is  small,  and  the  horse's  head  more  diminutive  than  in 
any  other  type  in  the  whole  series  of  these  coins.  The  body  of  the  plow  is  very 
thick  and  heavy ;  the  handles  unusually  short,  beam  short  and  curved  at  both  ends, 
and  the  singletree  runs  at  an  angle  almost  parallel  with  the  beam.  The  coulter  is 
omitted,  and  the  date  1786  occupies  its  place,  immediately  under  the  beam  of  the 
plow.  This  very  rare  and  valuable  piece,  and  which  I  venture  to  denominate  as 
unique,  is  in  the  collection  of  Jeremiah  Colbum,  Esq.,  of  Boston,  Mass.,  to  whom  I 
am  under  obligations  for  the  fac-simile  that  appears  in  this  Supplement. 

Tory  Copper. 
1787.        Device. — The  bust  of  George  III.,  head  laureated  and  facing  to  the  right. 
Legend.— Qc^O^QlY^  HI.  REX. 

Reverse. — The  goddess  of  Liberty  seated,  holding  in  her  right  hand  the  liberty  pole, 
and  the  olive  branch  in  her  left. 


SUPPLEMENT.  255 

Legend.— mj)^  *   ET  LIB  ,  ^ 

Exergue. — 1787. 

(Size  7.     See  Plate  XX.,  Figure  9. 

This  piece  differs  from  any  previously  illustrated,  and  hence  I  have  given  it  a  place. 
While  the  obverse  is  the  same  as  the  English  half-penny  of  the  date  it  bears,  the 
reverse  is  of  the  general  issues  of  the  Vermont  coppers. 

Franklin  Copper. 

1794.        Device. — An  old  Ramage  press  in  the  field. 

Legend.— ^10  ORITUR  DOCTRINA  SURGET  QUE  LIBERTAS.     Thus  Learn- 
ing arises,  and  Liberty  flourishes. 
Exergue. — 1794. 

jBever«e.— Inscription,  PAYABLE  AT  THE  FRANKLIN"  PRESS  LONDON. 
(Size  7.     See  Plate  XX.,  Figure  12.) 

This  curious  copper  coin  is  in  the  collection  of  Timothy  C.  Day,  Esq.,  of  Cincinnati, 
Ohio,  to  whom  I  am  indebted  for  the  fac-simile.  That  it  was  gotten  up  in  London, 
and  intended  for  circulation,  is  evident  -,  but  further,  in  relation  to  it,  I  know  not. 

The  Following  Described  Piece 

is  noticed  in  the  London  catalogues  of  coins  as  belonging  to  America.  This  must  be 
our  authority  for  giving  it  a  place  here.  It  is  certainly  very  novel,  and  I  am  indebted 
for  the  fac-simile  to  Timothy  C.  Day,  Esq.,  of  Cincinnati,  Ohio. 

Device. — A  full-length  figure  of  a  man  dressed  in  the  old  style  in  the  field,  which  is  sur- 
rounded by  a  wreath  of  oak-leaf  and  grape  vine,  holding  a  sprig  of  shalelah  in 
the  right  hand,  and  a  shamrock  in  the  left. 

JZewerse.-Jnscription,  PURE  COPPER  PREFERABLE  TO  PAPER. 

(Size  7.     See  Plate  XX.,  Figure  13.) 

The  Following  Described  Copper  Piece, 

for  the  fac-simile  of  which  I  am  indebted  to  R.  T.  Bonsall,  Esq.,  of  Springborough, 
Ohio,  is  about  the  thickness  of  the  1794  cent,  and  of  a  very  dark  color.  It  was  evi- 
dently struck  off,  among  others,  with  reference  to  the  difficulties  that  existed  between 
the  American  colonies  and  the  mother  country,  as  its  legends  are  fully  up  to  the 
standard  of  feeling  that  then  prevailed. 

It  is  said  it  was  gotten  up  in  Birmingham,  Eng.,  which  does  not,  however,  qualify 
the  sentiments  expressed,  as  the  commonalty  of  England  is  still  judiciously  struggling 
to  extricate  itself  from  the  Norman  grasp  of  its  government. 


256 


SUPPLEMENT. 


Device. — A  spaniel  dog,  apparently  running,  with  open  mouth  and  protruding  tongue. 
Legend.— MXJCR  GRATITUDE  BEINGS  SERVITUDE. 

Reverse. — The  staff  of  Mercury  surmounted  by  a  crown,  and  terminating  in  a  liberty-cap. 
Legend.— W^  WERE  BORN  FREE  AND  WILL  NEVER  DIE  SLAVES. 

(Size  8.     See  Plate  XX.,  Figure  18.) 

Vermon  Auctori. 

1786.  In  preparing  the  first  edition  of  this  work  for  the  press,  I  was  unable  to 
determine,  from  any  specimens  of  this  coin  I  possessed  or  could  obtain,  any 
date  anterior  to  those  of  1787.  Since,  however,  I  have  been  placed  in  possession  by 
collectors,  of  both  coins  and  rubbings,  which  have  enabled  me  to  extend  my  tables ; 
and  hence,  there  is  herewith  presented  four  types  of  this  coin  of  1786.  They  are  as 
follows : 


1786. 

LEGEND. 

VABIETIES. 

DEOBEES 

OF 
EABITT. 

POSITION. 

DEOOEATION. 

1 

2 
3 
4 

VERMON      AUCTORI 
VERMON  .    AUCTORI. 
AUCTORI .    VERMON  : 
VERMON:    AUCTORI: 

1 

1 
1 

1 

•  •  • 

•  •  • 

•  •  • 

•  •  • 

Facing  right. 
"      left. 
"      right. 
«       left. 

Laureated. 

H 

Fillet-Festooned. 
Laureated. 

The  most  of  the  early  Vermon  Auctori  are  so  much  worn,  that  it  is  only  by  the 
application  of  a  powerful  glass  that  the  date  can  be  determined.  The  planchet  upon 
which  they  were  struck  was  the  old  English  half-penny,  which  accounts  for  legends 
and  dates  being  often  so  blended  as  to  defy  accuracy,  except  by  patient  examination 
and  great  care. 

Types. — No.  1.  This  was  impressed  upon  an  unusually  small  planchet  of  soft  copper, 
whose  shape  is  lenticular.  At  first  sight  it  has  the  appearance  of  having  been  cast. 
The  Q^gy  is  uncouth,  head  laureated,  facing  to  the  right,  ill-formed,  and  apparently 
intended  to  represent  a  bald  head.  The  chin  long,  large,  and  double,  with  nothing  but 
the  legend  to  extricate  it  from  the  class  of  half-finished  trial  pieces  so  familiar  to  col- 
lectors. 

No.  2.  This  is  much  like  the  preceding,  except  in  the  punctuation  of  the  legend, 
the  planchet,  however,  being  larger  and  more  regular  in  form. 

No.  3.  The  legend  on  this  piece  is  reversed  as  per  table,  and  is  known  to  numis- 
matologists  as  the  "Baby  Head."  It  was  probably  among  the  latest  of  the  emissions 
of  1786,  as  a  similar  type  was  issued  in  the  succeeding  year.  Its  chief  merit  is  its 
rarity,  there  being  but  two,  to  my  knowledge,  in  cabinet  collections. 


SUPPLEMENT, 


257 


No.  4.  This  type  is  considered  very  rare,  and  an  important  acquisition  to  the  science 
to  which  it  reUites  j  as  it  not  only  determines  the  date  of  its  peculiar  effigy,  but  shows 
what  has  not  been  previously  known,  that  in  design  it  is  identical  with  the  common 
laureated  Connecticut  effigy  on  the  issue  of  1787.  The  only  specimen  of  this  type  I 
have  ever  seen  or  heard  of,  is  in  this  city. 


Vermon  Auctori. 

An  examination  of  about  eight  hundred  pieces  of  this  year's  emission,  ena- 
bles me  to  add  to  my  previous  number  but  four  types.     They  are  as  follows : 


1787. 


1787. 

tEGEND. 

VAKIETIE8. 

DEGRKES 

OF 
BARITY. 

POSITION. 

DECOEATION. 

4 
5 
6 

7 

VERMON.    AUCTORI. 
VERMON :     AUCTORI 
AUCTORI.    VERMON: 
VERMON:    AUCTORI. 

2 
1 

1 
1 

•  •  • 

•  •  • 

•  •  • 

•  •  • 

Facing  right. 
n 

ii 

(I 

Laureated. 

(C 

Fillet-Festooned, 
a 

Types. — No.  4  is  struck  upon  a  much  larger  planchet  than  is  common  to  this  coin;  the 
bust  is  correspondingly  large,  and  the  cheeks  of  the  effigy  quite  full.  The  I  in  AUCTORI 
crowds  the  punctuation  closely,  upon  the  head  of  the  effigy.  In  one  of  the  varieties, 
the  cap  line  of  the  L,  in  LIB,  is  extended  back  so  far  as  to  give  it  the  appearance  of 
a  Z.     I  have  seen  but  two  varieties  of  this  type,  both  of  which  are  in  my  cabinet. 

No.  5.  This  is  the  only  specimen  I  have  met  with  that  is  so  punctuated.  The 
planchets  used  may  have  been  originally  designed  for  the  Auctori  Connec  of  1785,  as 
they  are  materially  larger  than  most  of  those  used  for  this  coin.  It  is  very  rare,  and 
now  in  my  cabinet. 

No.  6.  In  this,  the  "Baby  Head"  again  makes  its  appearance.  A  critical  examina- 
tion, by  a  powerful  glass,  discloses  no  difference  in  the  obverse ;  and  even  the  reverse, 
in  one  variety,  is  the  same  as  on  the  emission  of  1786. 

No.  7.  This  is  an  isolated  type  which  has  lately  come  under  my  notice  in  the  form 
of  a  rubbing,  from  a  gentleman  of  Baltimore,  Md.,  on  whom  I  can  rely  for  its  genuine- 
ness. It  bears  the  general  appearance  of  the  preceding  type.  In  both  tables  of  this 
year — 1787 — it  will  be  found  I  have  given  but  a  single  type  facing  left,  and  no  legend 
of  LIB  ET  INDE. 

33 


258  SUPPLEMENT. 

Vermon  Auctori. 

1788.         My  extensive  researches  among  the  issues  of  this  year  have  resulted  in  the 
addition  of  but  two  types  to  those  previously  given.     They  are  as  follows : 

Legend.  Varietias.  Degrees  of  Rarity.  Position.  Decoration. 

14.  VERMON.  AIJCTORI  i^         1  ...  Right  Fillet-Festooned. 

15.  VERMON.  AUCTORI  I-.*         1  ...  «  « 

Types. — No.  14.  This  differs  from  No.  10  in  the  former  table  only  in  the  number  of 
points  in  the  star  or  punctuation.  I  have  seen  but  two  types,  one  of  which  is  in  the  valu- 
ble  collection  of  Henry  F.  Geyer,  Esq.,  of  this  city,  and  is  very  rare  and  valuable. 

No.  15.  This  differs  from  the  preceding  only  in  the  punctuation  or  formation  of  the 
star,  and  is  a  type  rarely  met  with. 

Auctori  Connec. 

Though  very  desirous  of  adding  something  to  what  I  had  given  in  the  body 
of  this  work,  I  have  found  but  a  single  additional  type,  and  as  that  is  in  most     1785. 
particulars  of  the  common  Q^gy  of  1787,  it  serves  as  an  index  to  it,  which 
fully  compensates  me  for  my  labor.     It  is  as  follows : 

Device. — A  bust  in  the  Roman  toga,  head  laureated  and  facing  to  the  left. 

Legend.— KUCTOm.  CONNEC 

Reverse. — The  goddess  of  Liberty  seated  on  the  globe,  facing  to  the  left,  the  liberty-pole 

surmounted  by  the  cap,  in  the  left  hand ;  the  olive  branch  in  the  right. 
Legend.— lEJ)^  :  .*•:   ET  LIB  : 
Exergue. — 1785. 

In  this  type  the  legend  is  not  punctuated,  the  letters  being  quite  large,  and  hence 
is  similar  to  Type  2  in  the  table  of  issues  of  1785.  It  is  in  my  possession;  I  have 
not  heard  of  it  elsewhere. 

Auctori  Connec. 

I  have  thought  it  advisable  to  describe  a  few  of  the  types  occurring  in  the  1786. 
table  on  page  105,  to  aid  the  student  in  the  classification  of  his  coins. 

Types. — No.  1.  The  effigy  presents  a  very  ludicrous  appearance,  all  natural  lines  of 
the  human  form  having  apparently  been  disregarded.  The  chin  is  double,  the  lower 
portion  being  offensively  square,  and  the  eye  a  mere  round  dot,  regardless  of  pro^  or- 
tion.  The  legend  on  the  reverse  is,  ET  -  LIB  -  INDE.  This  type  is  very  rare,  and 
to  be  met  with  but  in  few  cabinets. 


SUPPLEMENT.  259 

No.  2.  This  was  the  first  emission  of  this  year,  and  the  second  in  the  Connecticut 
series  of  this  style  of  effigy.  The  mechanical  execution  is  better  than  usual,  the  let- 
tering being  more  perfect  than  of  the  issues  that  precede  it.  The  leaves  of  the  laurel 
wreath  are  quite  small,  and  the  ends  of  the  ribbon  that  fall  from  it  are  mere  strings. 

No.  3.  This  varies  from  the  preceding  only  in  the  punctuation  in  the  middle  of  the 
legend. 

No.  4.  This  is  deemed  the  most  rare  of  this  year's  coinage,  and  bears  the  appella- 
tion of  the  "  round  head,"  the  features  being  quite  small  and  delicately  proportioned. 
The  hair  is  brought  out  artistically,  and  the  wreath  around  the  head  is  well  arranged. 
The  reverse  ET  —  LIB  -  INDE  on  the  reverse  is  the  same  as  on  Type  1  of  this  year. 
It  is  very  rare. 

No.  5.  This  is  remarkable  for  nothing  but  the  punctuation  of  the  legend. 

No.  6.  The  variation  of  this  from  No.  4  is,  that  the  head  is  longer,  the  hair  appa- 
rently rougher,  and  the  tags  to  the  wreath  unusually  long.  I  have  seen  but  a  single 
specimen  of  this  type. 

No.  7.  Differing  from  No.  5  only  in  the  punctuation. 

No.  8.  Same  as  the  preceding,  except  in  punctuation. 

No.  9.  Same  as  the  preceding,  except  in  punctuation. 

No.  10.  Extremely  rare,  because  fillet-festooned  instead  of  being  laureated. 

No.  11.  Nothing  to  distinguish  this  but  the  punctuation,  the  effigy  being  of  the  old 
style. 

No.  12.  Though  the  punctuation  is  the  same  as  the  preceding,  it  is  a  new  type,  as 
the  workmanship  differs  from  any  of  the  whole  series,  the  die  being  deeper,  and  hence 
the  muscular  development  of  feature  surpasses  any  other  issue.  To  distinguish  it,  I 
have  called  it  the  type  Hercules.  It  is  extremely  rare,  and  was  evidently  the  work 
of  a  superior  artist  of  the  period  it  was  gotten  up. 

AUCTOKI   CONNEC. 

Since  the  appearance  of  the  first  edition  of  this  work,  I  have  been  able  to  1787. 
add  twenty  additional  types  to  those  previously  given  of  this  year;  hence,  my 
labors  have  been  attended  with  more  than  usual  success.  They  will  be  found  in  the 
table  I  have  herewith  arranged,  which  discloses  so  much  of  that  fruitful  ingenuity  in 
varying  a  currency  by  punctuation,  and  which  increases  the  number  of  types  from  73 
in  the  former  table,  to  93  in  this. 


260 


SUPPLEMENT, 


1 

1 

DEGREES     1 

1787. 

lEGENDa 

OF 

1    POSITION. 

DECORATION. 

VARIETIES. 

RAKITY. 

74 

AUCTOm 

CONNEC 

Left 

Fillet-Festooned. 

1 

75 

AUCTORI 

CONNEC 

Right 

Laureated, 

2 

76 

AUCTOm 

CONNEC 

(( 

<( 

77 

AUCTORI 

:•:     : : 

CONNEC  :  •;• 

Left 

(( 

78 

AUCTORI 

+   + 

CONNEC  + 

1            " 

Fillet-Festooned. 

79 

AUCTORI 

+  + 

CONNEC : + 

»            (( 

Laureated. 

80 

+  AUCTORI 

+  + 

CONNEC : + 

1            " 

ii 

81 

AUCTORI 

■f 

CONNEC : 4 

t             " 

t( 

1 

82 

■¥  AUCTOPI  : 

^ 

CONNEC . 

»                      (C 

(( 

83 

^ AUCTORI 

CONNEC : 4 

»               u 

(I 

84 

^  AUCTORI ' 

¥ 

CONNEC : 4 

»             ^' 

(I 

85 

^  AUCTORI 

-^¥ 

CONNEC . * 

1               '' 

11 

86 

^  AUCTORI 

^  ¥ 

CONNEC. 4 

»               « 

(I 

87 

^  AUCTORI 

:   -¥■  ¥ 

CONNEC : 4 

t               " 

H 

88 

AUCTOPI 

¥  ¥• 

CONNEC ' 

t                 u 

11 

89 

^  AUCTORI 

-¥■  ¥ 

CONNEC    4 

»               '' 

Fillet-Festooned. 

90 

¥  AUCTORI 

¥  ¥■ 

CONNEC    4 

»              u 

(( 

91 

^  AUCTORI 

:  ««• 

CONNEC  :  <- 

•               << 

Laureated. 

92 

^  AUCTORI 

:  *--^ 

CONNEC : 

1              <' 

a 

93 

*•  AUCTORI 

«?•<--* 

►  CONNEC .  «- 

Right 

Fillet-Festooned. 

Tjjpes. — No.  74.  The  planchet  too  small  for  Q^^j,  which  nearly  covers  it.  Roughly 
executed,  aijd  bears  the  appearance  of  having  been  a  trial  piece. 

No.  75.  The  effigy  unusually  small  and  very  unartistic,  the  profile  being  nearly  on 
a  straight  line. 

No.  76.  The  obverse  of  this  die  must  have  been  rough,  and  the  effigy  out  of  pro- 
portion to  the  planchet.  It  is  known  as  the  "Bull's  Head."  The  figure  on  the  re- 
verse, in  full  dress,  with  low  neck,  and  exposing  a  very  full  bust,  is  better  executed. 

No.  77.  A  full  bust,  with  a  peculiar  punctuation. 

Nos.  78,  79,  80  and  81.  Distinguished  for  their  punctuations. 

No.  82.  The  peculiarity  is  in  the  legend. 

No.  83.  Can  be  determined  by  its  punctuation. 

No.  84.  Very  curious  in  the  representation  of  the  hair,  which  resembles  the  negro's, 
hence  called  "Woolly  Head." 

No.  85.  The  same  punctuation  as  the  preceding,  but  with  a  different  effigy. 

No.  86.  This  is  determined  by  the  punctuation. 

No.  87.  This  can  be  determined  by  its  peculiar  punctuation. 


SUPPLEMENT. 


263 


No.  88.  The  legend  is  Auctopi  Connec. 

Nos.  89,  90,  91,  92,  and  93.    Differ  from  each  other,  only  in  the   punctuation. 
They  are  all  rare. 

AucTORi  Connec. 

1788.         The  following,  the  result  of  much  research,  have  been  added  to  the  previ- 
ously described  types  of  this  year. 


1788. 

LEGENDS, 

DEGREES 

OF 
BAKITT. 

POSITION. 

DECORATION. 

VARIETIES. 

26 

AUCTORI : 

CONNEC : 

Right. 

Fillet-Festooned. 

2 

27 

¥  AUCTORI . 

CONNEC    4 

a 

(( 

28 

^  AUCTORI : 

¥  -f 

CONNEC : 

Left. 

Laureated. 

29 

Jf  AUCTORI 

¥  ■¥- 

CONNEC  .  ¥• 

(I 

30 

^  AUCTORI 

¥  -f 

CONNEC : 4 

(C 

(( 

31 

^  AUCTORI: 

¥  ¥ 

CONNEC  :  ¥■ 

(C 

32 

^  AUCTORI 

¥  ¥■ 

CONNEC    4 

Fillet-Festooned. 

33 

AUCTORI 

*  * 

CONNEC    * 

(C 

34 

AUCTORI 

*  ♦ 

CONNEC    * 

Right. 

(( 

35 

c§3  AUCTORI 

*  * 

CONNEC    * 

(C 

u 

Types. — No.  26.  This  may  be  determined  by  the  large  head,  irregular  features,  and  eyes 
and  lips  protruding  like  a  negro's.  The  laurel  leaf,  forming  the  wreath,  is  very  large, 
and  the* hair  is  indicated  by  a  series  of  oblong  dots.  Though  there  is  some  resemblance 
in  this  to  type  No.  76,  of  1787,  on  the  reverse,  it  will  be  observed,  it  is  not  as  well  clad; 
the  upper  part  of  the  body  being  less  covered,  the  hair  formed  into  a  top-knot,  and 
the  figure — probably  the  goddess  of  Liberty — supports  in  her  right  hand  the  liberty- 
pole  and  cap. 

No.  27.  The  effigy  in  this  is  small,  with  a  bow  at  the  lower  end  of  the  fillet.  The 
head  resembles  that  of  George  III.  in  the  English  half-penny  of  the  same  year. 

Nos.  28,  29,  30,  and  31.  These  can  be  determined  by  the  punctuations. 

Nos.  32,  33,  and  34.  These  bear  the  ordinary  effigy,  fillei>festooned. 

No.  35.  The  hair  is  arranged  rather  fantastically  in  this  type;  but  the  punctuation 
will  serve  as  an  unerring  guide. 

Nova  C-sisarea. 

1787.         Of  this  issue,  I  am  enabled  to  give  four  additional  types,  as  follows : 

No.  31.  This  represents  one  of  the  straight-beam  plows,  the  beam  being  nearly 
on  a  direct  line  with  the  handles,  one  of  which  is  rather  longer  than  the  other.     The 


262  SUPPLEMENT. 

singletree  runs  parallel  with  the  coulter,  and  is  much  nearer  to  the  plow  than  in  any 
other  type  of  this  year.  The  shield  is  of  medium  size,  and  points  to  the  thick  line  of 
the  letter  U  in  the  legend  in  the  reverse. 

No.  32.  This  represents  the  ball-handled  plow,  and  may  be  determined  by  the 
handles  approaching  nearer  to  each  other  than  in  any  other  type.  The  handles  at 
the  point  of  attachment  of  the  balls,  are  scolloped  out,  which  gives  them  the  appear- 
ance of  being  quite  thin. 

No.  33.  This  is,  also,  of  a  ball-handled  plow ;  but  the  balls  are  large,  quite  as  much 
80  as  in  No.  8,  though  they  approach  nearer  to  the  N  in  NOVA,  than  in  that  type. 

No.  34.  This  is  a  very  valuable  specimen.  The  planchet  is  large,  but  thin;  the 
horse's  head  small,  neck  large,  the  mane  exceedingly  well  oxecuted.  The  handles  of 
the  plow  are  thin,  of  different  thickness,  and  the  space  between  them  extends  down 
to  the  line  at  the  bottom  of  the  plow,  and  terminating  squarely  on  the  base  line,  which 
is  the  case  in  no  other  type  of  the  different  issues  of  the  Nova  Caesarea.  The  curve 
in  the  beam  is  double,  and  the  beam  decreases  in  size  to  the  end.  The  singletree  is 
very  indistinct,  the  coulter  terminates  in  a  sharp  point,  beneath  the  horse's  neck  are 
three  leaves,  and  the  two  last  A's  in  CAESAREA  are  not  cross-lined. 

Nova  C^sarea. 

1788.  My  researches,  pursued  with  equal  zeal,  in  relation  to  this  issue-,  have  been 
rewarded  by  only  four  additional  types,  which  are  as  follows : 

No.  6.  This  is  very  curious,  rough  and  imperfect,  and,  as  a  whole,  a  peculiar  piece 
of  workmanship.  The  horse's  head  is  spirited,  the  eye  placed  in  a  regular  oval  socket, 
and  the  mane  exhibits  three  large  plaits,  reaching  down  to  the  lower  line  of  the  neck. 
The  plow  is  large,  badly  executed,  and  the  legend  is  punctuated  thus :  ^  NOVA 
C^SAREA. 

No.  7.  This  type  may  be  determined  by  the  horse's  ear  being  large  and  open,  six 
small  braids  turning  inward,  forming  the  mane,  the  mouth  and  nostrils  well  formed, 
the  plow  peculiar,  being  a  mere  skeleton,  the  handles  two  curves,  long  and  shm  down 
to  the  foot-board,  the  beam  thin  and  straight,  the  coulter  placed  much  in  advance  of 
its  true  position,  and  the  legend  thus :  NOVA  ^   C^SAREA  ^. 

No.  8  bears  the  general  appearance  of  the  preceding,  but  not  quite  as  well  executed ; 
the  horse's  ears  are  small,  mouth  bad,  mane  thin  and  short,  the  plow  varying  in  being 
stouter,  but  nearly  of  the  same  form,  and  the  date  placed  differently. 

No.  9.  In  this,  the  horse's  head  and  plow  larger  than  in  any  of  the  preceding  types; 
beam  of  the  plow  large  and  thick,  no  singletree,  the  handles  large  and  very  near  to 
each  other,  and  the  legend  thus :  NOVA  C^SAREA  <^. 


TRANSLATIONS 


or 


LEGENDS   APPEARING   UPON    COINS    &c.,    IN   THIS   WORK.' 


CEESCITE  ET  MVLTIPLICAMINL     Increase  and  be  multiplied. —  Plate  VI.,  Figure  13. 

DENARIUM  TERR^  MARI^.     Maryland  Penny.  — Plate  VI.,  Figure  16. 

SIT  NOMEN  DOMINI  BENEDICTUM.     Blessed  be  the  name  of  the  Lord.  — Plate  VH.,  Figure  3. 

NGN  DEPENDENS  STATUS.    Independent  of  position.  —  Plate  VIIL,  Figure  13. 

NOVA  CONSTELLATIO.     New  Constellation  —  assemblage  or  group  of  fixed  stars,  emblematic  of  the 
American  States.  —  Plate  IX.,  Figure  5. 

IMMUNE  COLUMBIA.     Free  America.  — Plate  IX.,  Figure  5. 

VOCE  POPOLL     By  the  voice  of  the  people.  — Plate  IX.,  Figure  7. 

AMERICA  INIMICA  TYRANS.     America  hostile  to  Tyrants.  —  Plate  IX.,  Figure  11. 

QUARTA.  DECIMA.  STELLA.    The  fourteenth  star — ^referring  to  Vermont  in  the  American  constellation. 
Plate  IX.,  Figure  12. 

VERMONTS  RES  PUBLIC  A.     The  Republic  of  Vermont.  —  Plate  IX.,  Figure  13. 

VERMON.  AUCTORL    By  authority  of  Vermont.  — Plate  IX.,  Figure  15. 

AUCTORL  CONNEC.     By  authority  of  Connecticut.  —  Plate  X.,  Figure  4. 

INDE  ET  LIB.     Liberty  and  Independence.  —  Plate  X.,  Figure  4. 

AUCTORL  PLEBIS.     By  authority  of  the  people.  —  Plate  X.,  Figure  2. 

NOVA  CtESAREA.     Now  New  Jersey.  —  Plate  X.,  Figures  11  to  21. 

*  We  give  the  legends  as  they  appear  upon  the  coins,  ■without  reference  to  their  critical  correctness. 

(263) 


2G4  TRANSLATIONS    OF    LEGENDS. 

NON  VI  VIRTUTE  VICE.     I  have  conquered  by  virtue,  not  by  force.  —  Plate  XI.,  Figure  1. 

NEO.  EBORACENSIS.     New  York.  — Plate  XI.,  Figure  1. 

NOVA  EBORACA.     Columbia.     Excelsior.  —  Plate  XL,  Figure  2. 

NEW  YORK.     Columbia,  paramount  or  greatest. 

NOVA  EBORAC.    New  York.  — Plate  XL,  Figure  4. 

VIRT  ET  LIB.     Virtue  and  Liberty.  —  Plate  XL,  Figure  4. 

LIBER  NATUS  LIBERTATEM  DEFENDO.     Born  free  I  defend  liberty .  — Plate  XL,  Figure  5. 

EXCELSIOR.     More  lofty,  higher,  more  elevated.  —  Plate  XL,  Figure  6. 

SALVE  MAGNA  PARENS  FRUGUM.     Hail,  mighty  mother  of  production  !  — Plate  XL,  Figure  16. 

REUNIT  PAR  UN  RARE  ASSEMBLAGE  LES  TALENS  DU  GUERRIER  ET  LES  VERTUS  DE 
SAGE.  He  united  in  himself  the  rare  combination  of  a  talent  for  war  and  the  virtues  of  the 
sage.  —  Folio  140. 

IN  UNITATE  FORTITUDO.     In  union  there  is  strength.  —  Folio  142. 

" Manus  hoec,  inimica  tyrannis, 


Ense  petit  placidam  sub  libertate  quietem." 

This  hand  is  hostile  to  tyrants, 

And  seeks  with  the  sword  for  peace  under  liberty. 


^■u 


SYNOPSIS 


OF 


INTRODUCTION   AND    MASSACHUSETTS    CUREENCY. 


INTKODUCTION. 

A  Coin  an  index  to  a  people  and  their  state  of  civilization Page  11 

Lost  history  revealed  through  the  agency  of  coins.     Earliest  money  transactions  on  record 12 

Positive  coins  imputed  to  the  Greeks 13 

Bomans  issued  a  silver  coinage  281  B.C.,  gold  207  B.  C 15 

Gauls  used  for  money  gold  and  iron  rings 15 

Coins  issued  by  the  British  prince  Cunobeline 15 

Emperor  Claudius  subjugated  Britain  in  the  42d  year  of  the  era  of  Britain,  and  the  Roman  coinage  soon 

after  gained  the  ascendant 15 

Saxons  succeed  the  Romans  in  Britain,  with  money  totally  diflferent 16 

Saxon  Heptarchy  —  kings  of  Kent  from  the  accession  of  Ethelbert,  A.  D.  568 16 

Coins  of  the  kings  of  Northumberland 17 

Dignitaries  of  the  Church  strike  money  and  enjoy  the  profits  of  mintage 17 

Coins  of  the  Saxon  and  Danish  sole  monarchs  of  England 17 

Anglo-Norman  kings.    No  improvement  in  coinage 18 

COINS   OF  THE  ENGLISH   SOVEBEIGNS. 

Henry  VU.,  AD.  1485  to  1509 19 

Henry  VUL,  A.D.  1509  to  1547 19 

Edward  VI,  A.D.  1547  to  1553 20 

Mary,  A.D.  1553  to  1558 20 

Elizabeth,  A.  D.  1558  to  1602 20 

COINAGE   OF   SCOTLAND   BEFORE  THE  UNION. 

Earliest  coins  attributed  to  William  the  Lion,  A.  D.  1165 ;  to  the  princes  of  the  Hebrides,  Donald  VIII., 

A.D.  1093;  Alexander  L  1107 20 

Alexander  II.  and  III.,  Baliol  and  Bruce 20 

Mary,  A.D.  1542  to  1587 21 

James  VI.,  A.  D.  1587  to  1625 21 

Scotland  merged  in  the  United  Kingdom,  &c 21 

Coinage  of  James  I.,  A.D.  1602  to  1625 21 

Charles  I.,  A.  D.  1625  to  1649 22 

Coining  down  the  plate  of  the  colleges 23 

34  (265) 


266  SYNOPSIS    OF    INTRODUCTION,    ETC. 

Siege  pieces,  1644  and  1645 23 

First  Scottish  coinage  in  this  reign  by  Briot 24 

Irish  money  ordered  to  be  abolished 24 

Commonwealth,  A.D.  1648  to  1660 24 

Pierre  Blondeau  perfected  the  stamping  of  coin  by  the  mill  and  screw,  and  was  invited  to  England 24' 

Charles  H.,  A.D.  1660  to  1684 25 

First  milled  coinage,  1663 25 

Coinage  of  William  and  Mary,  and  William  HI.,  A.D.  1688  to  1702 26 

Anne,  A.D.  1702  to  1714 27 

George  L,  A.D.  1714  to  1727 27 

George  II.,  A.D.  1729  to  1760 27 

GeorgeHI.,  A.D.  1760  to  1820 28 

Bank-Tokens  sanctioned 28 

MASSACHUSETTS  CURRENCY. 

Roger  Williams'  description  of  the  money  of  the  New  England  Indians,  1628 46 

A  Mint  decided  npon,  and  the  court  enacted  laws  for  its  government,  1652 49 

First  emission  of  coin,  1652 50 

The  court  concludes  that  John  Hull,  the  Mint-Master,  has  too  lucrative  a  position,  and  desires  his  resigna- 
tion.    His  daughter's  marriage,  dower,  &c 51 

The  Mint  an  important  institution.     Endeavors  made  under  the  administration  of  Governor  Andross  to 

have  the  Mother  country  legalize  it 52 

Interesting  incident — in  relation  to  the  oak-tree  coins — of  Sir  Thomas  Temple,  Governor  of  Nova  Scotia, 

and  Charles  II.,  1662 52 

The  Colonial  government  called  to  an  account  relative  to  the  Mint 53 

A  diplomatic  operation  to  soothe  the  wounded  prerogative  of  the  king,  1666 53 

The  Mint  continued  its  operations 63 

More  diplomacy,  aimed  at  the  gastronomic  proclivities  of  his  maj  esty,  1677 53 

Free-Mint  suggested,  1680 54 

Still  more  diplomacy  contemplated  through  agents  of  the  colony  bound  to  London,  1681 54 

Officers  of  the  London  Mint  opposed  to  the  Boston  Mint,  1685 54 

Long-established  form  of  the  Colonial  government  departed  —  the  Mint  survives,  and  another  attack  is 

made  upon  it  by  the  Lord  High-Treasurer  of  England,  1686 54 

Country-pay  still  permitted,  1687 54 

Report  of  the  condition  of  the  Treasury,  1688 55 

Petition  to  William  and  Mary  for  permission  to  renew  Mint  operations 55 

The  colonists  resort  to  paper-issues,  1690 55 

Governor  Hutchinson's  congratulations  relative  to  the  condition  of  the  Treasury,  1774  55 

An  emission  of  paper  authorized,  1775 55 

Massachusetts  agrees  to  the  articles  of  Confederation,  1777 56 

Massachusetts  Bank  chartered,  1784 56 

The  Confederated  government  of  the  United  States  enter  into  a  contract  for  the  coinage  of  copper,  1786. 

See  "  First  United  States  Cent." 56 

The  erection  of  buildings  for  the  second  Massachsetts  Mint  authorized,  coin  described,  &c 56 

The  second  Mint  ended  in  1788 57 


INDEX 


TO 


MATTERS    CONTAINED    IN   PARTS   I.   TO  V. 


Aboriginal  Coins  OR  Monet Page    36 

Annapolis  Shilling,  1783 94 

"        Six-pence,  1783 94 

«        Three-pence,  1783 95 

Auctori  Connec,  1785 102 

«  "      1786 104 

«  "     1787 105 

"  "      types  and  varieties  of 107—110 

«  "      1788 110 

"  "      types  and  varieties  of Ill 

«      Plebis,  1787 112 

Baldwin  &  Co.,  California,  coinage  of 225 

Bars,  F.  D.  Kohler,  California  226 

Bermuda  Islands 58 

Bone  money 39 

Boulton,  Mr.,  of  France,  machine  for  coining  in- 
vented by 35 

California  Coins 223 

Carolina  Half-Penny,  1694 70 

Casting,  Monsieur,  hia  invention  for  milling 35 

Castorland  Half-Dollar,  1796 136 

Cent,  1794 202 

«     1795 203 

«     1796 204 

«     1808 209 

«     1816,1817 211 

«     1839 216 

«     Feuchtwanger,  1837 235 

«     First  United  States,  1787 126 

"     Liberty-cap,  1793 201 

«     Massachusetts,  1787 127 

«     New  York,  1796 134 

«     Nickel,  1858 220 


Cent,  (Pattern)  1851 233 

"  (Patterns)  1853, 1854, 1855, 1856 234 

"  (Pattern)  1858 235 

"     (Patterns)  1792 230-231 

«     Ring-,  (Pattern)  1850 233 

"     AVreath-,  1793  200 

Chain-Cent,  1793 199 

Cincinnati  Mining  and  Trading  Co.,  California, 

coinage  of  the 224 

Coal  and  Lignite 37 

"    specimens  of  money  of 38,  39 

Coinage 33 

"       steam-,  1836 235 

Coins 32 

"    of  the  United  States 145 

Columbia  Copper 143 

Confederatio  Copper,  1785 98 

Connecticut  Coins 102 

"               "     types  and  varieties  of....  107,  108 

Continental  Currency,  1776 86 

Copper  coinage  of  the  U.  S.  Mint 245,  246 

"       money 44 

Cuneator 33 

De  Dansk  Americ,  1740 143 

Degrees  of  Rarity  of  Coins  of  the  United  States..  237 

Dime,  1797 178 

"      1837 192 

"     1838 193 

"      (Pattern)  1792 230 

Dollar,  Gold,  1849 170 

"         «     1854 173 

"      Gold,  (Pattern)  1836 231 

"      Gold-Ring  (Pattern)  1852 233 

"      and  Half-Dollar  (Pattern)  1839 232 

(267) 


268 


INDEX. 


Dollar,  (Pattern)  1836 231 

«  "  1838 232 

"    Piece,  Nortt  Carolina 222 

"         "      California 226 

"     Silver,  1794 175 

«        «       1795 176 

«        «       1798 179 

«        <«       1836 191 

«        «       1838 193 

«        "       1840 194 

"    Silver-ring  (Pattern)  1852 233 

Double-Eagle,  1849 169 

"         "        (Pattern)  1849 232 

Dubosq  &  Co.,  California,  coinage  of. 225 

Dunbar  &  Co.,        "  «         225 

Eagle,  1795 155 

«   1797 156 

"   1798 157 

"   1838 165 

Encrinite  Lily 42 

Extended  hand  an  emblem,  &c 41 

Feucht WANGER  Cent,  (Pattern)  1837 23 5 

Fifty-Dollar  Pieces,  Moffatt  &  Co.,  California 226 

First  United  States  Cent,  1787 126 

Five-Dollar  Piece,  North  Carolina,  1787 2:i2 

"  Pieces,  Baldwin  &  Co.,  California..,.  225 

«  "       Cin.  Min'g&Trad'gCo.,Cal.  224 

«  "       Dubosq  &  Co.,  California....  225 

"  "       Dunbar  &  Co.,         "         ....  225 

«  «       Mass.  &  Cal.  Co.      "         ....  225 

«  "       Moffatt  &  Co.  "        ....  224 

«  "       Mormon,  Utah 225 

«  "       N.  G.  &  N.,  California 223 

«  «       Oregon  Exchange  Co.,  Cal ...  223 

«  "       Pacific  Co.,  California 224 

"  "        Shultz  &  Co.,      "        225 

Florida  Piece,  1760 81 

Galena  Money  (Aboriginal) 43 

Georgius  Triumpho,  1783 , 93 

Gold  Coinage  of  the  United  States 155 

"  "  "  Mint...  241,  242 

"   Dollar,  (Pattern)  1836 231 

"   Money  (Aboriginal) 43 

"   Ring  Dollar,  (Pattern)  1852 233 

"      «     Half-Dollar,  (Pattern)  1852 233 

Good  Samaritan  Shilling,  1652 63 


Granby  Coppers,  1737,  1739..... 79 

Groat,  Lord  Baltimore,  1659... 64 

Hale-Cent,  Massachusetts,  1788 127 

"        "      1794 202 

"        "      1795  203 

"        "      1797 204 

"        "      1800 206 

"        "      1809 209 

"        "      1828 213 

"        «      1840 216 

"     Dime,  1794 176 

"        "      1797 178 

"     Dollar,  1794 176 

"         "      1801 180 

«         "      1808 184 

''         "      1837 192 

"         "      1840 195 

"          "       Castorland,  1796.... 136 

"          "       and  Dollar,  (Pattern)  1839 232 

"          "       Gold,  California 226 

"          "       Gold-Ring,  (Pattern)  1852 233 

"         "       (Pattern)  1858 234 

"          "       Washington,  1792 133 

"     Eagle,  1795 155 

"        «      1798 157 

"        "      1808 160 

"        «      1834 164 

"        "      1838 165 

"     Penny,  Carolina,  1694 70 

"          «      Liverpool,  1791 138 

"          "      New  England,  1694 72 

Immunis  Columbia,  1787 121,  123 

Index  of  Dates,  Degrees  of  Rarity,  &c.,  of  the 

Gold,  Silver,  and  Copper  Coinage  of  the  U.  S..  237 
Ingots,  U.  S.  Assay,  Moffatt,  &  Co.,  California...  226 

Janus  Copper,  1776 87 

J.  S.  0.,  California,  coinage  of 224 

Kentucky  Copper,  1791 126 

"  "       1796 135 

Liber  Natus  Libertatem  Defendo,  1787 124 

"    "      "       "    1787 125 

Liberty-Cap  Cent 201 

Lignite  and  Coal  pieces 37 

"      coin-like  mass  of. 38 


INDEX. 


269 


Lignite  coin 88 

Liverpool  Half-Penny,  1791 138 

London  Half-Penny 70 

Lord  Baltimore  Groat,  1659 64 

"            "       Shilling,  1659  63 

«            "      Six-pence,  1659 63 

«             «       Penny 64 

Louisiana  Copper,  1721,  1722 73 

«  "       1767 83 

Maryland  Currency 63 

Massachusetts  and  California  Co.,  Cal.,  coinage  of  225 

"            Cent,  1787 127 

"            Coppers,  1776 88 

"             Currency 46 

«            Half-Cent,  1788 127 

Measure 30 

Miners'  Bank  of  San  Francisco,  coinage  of 224 

Moffatt  &  Co.,  California,  coinage  of 224 

Moneyer 33 

Mormon  coinage,  Utah 225 

Neo  Eboracensis,  1786 122 

New  England  Half-Penny,  1694 72 

"  Pattern  Shilling,  1650 59 

«  Shilling,  1652 59 

'  Six-pence,  1652 59 

New  Jersey 112 

"         Coppers,  1786,  1788 112 

New  York 122 

"       Cent,  1794 134 

«        Coppers 123 

"       Gold  Coin,  1787 122 

N.  G.  &  N,  California,  Half-Eagle 223 

Nickel  Cent,  1857  220 

"        "     1858  220 

Non  Dependens  Status,  1778 89 

North  American  Token,  1781  144 

North  Carolina  Five-Dollar  Pieces 222 

"  "       Gold  Coins 220 

"  "       One  Dollar  Piece 222 

«  '        Two-and-a-half  Dollar  Pieces 221 

Nova  Caesarea,  1786 112 

"  "       types  and  varieties 115,117,121 

Nova  Constellatio,  1783 90 

"  "  1785 91,92 

Nova  Eborac,  1787 123 


Oak-Tree  Shilling,  1652. 
"  Six-pence,     "    . 


60 
60 


Oak-Tree  Three-pence,  1652 61 

"         Two-pence,  1652 , 61 

J.  S.  0.  —  Ormsby  —  California,  coinage  of. 224 

One-Dollar  Piece,  California 226 

"  "      North  Carolina 222 

Oregon  Exchange  Co.,  California,  coinage  of.....  223 

Pacific  Co.,  California,  coinage  of. 224 

Pearls 40 

Penny,  Lord  Baltimore,  1659 64 

Pieces,  Pattern 231 

Pine-Tree  Copper,  1766 88 

"        Shilling,  1652 60 

"        Six-pence,  1652 60 

"        Three-pence,  1652 60 

Pitt  Piece,  1766 81 

Processes  of  Assay  of  Gold  and  Silver  Coins  — 
U.  S.  Mint 149 

Quarter  Dollar,  1831 189 

"  "         1853 198 

"  "         Gold,  California  227 

«         Eagle,  1796 156 

"  "       1808 161 

"  "       1838 165 


Reed,  Templeton,  California,  coinage  of 224 

Ring-Cent,  1850,  (Pattern) 233 

Rosa- Americana  Farthing,  1722 75 

"         1723 76 

Half-Penny,  1722 75 

"     1723 75 

Penny,  1722 75 

"   1723 75 

"   1733 76 

types  and  varieties 76 

Scale  of  Sizes,  or  Measure  of  Medals  and  Coins,  30 

Shell  Money 40 

Shilling,  Anapolis,  1783 94 

"        Good  Samaritan,  1652 63 

"        Lord  Baltimore,  1659 63 

"        New  England,  1650,  (Pattern) 59 

"               "               1652 59 

"       Oak-Tree,  1652 60 

"        Pine-Tree,  1652 60 

Shultz  &  Co.,  California,  coinage  of. 225 

Sign  —  an  Egyptian  hieroglyphic 43 

Silver  Coinage  of  the  U.  S.  Mint 243,  244 

"     Money 43 


270 


INDEX. 


Silver-Ring  Dollar,  1852,  (Pattern) 233 

Six-pence,  Annapolis,  1783 94 

«           Lord  Baltimore,  1659 63 

«           New  England,  1652 59 

«           Oak-Tree,  1652 60 

«           Pine-tree,  1652 60 

Somer,  Summer  or  Bermuda  Islands'  Coin 68 

Standard 31 

Steam-Coinage,  1836,  (Pattern) 235 

Sterling 32 

Stone  Money 42 

Tabular  Statement  of  Coinage  of  the  U.  S.  Mint,  241 

Terra-Cotta  Money 41 

Ten-Dollar  Pieces,  Baldwin  &  Co.,  California  ....  225 
"               "       Cincinnati  Mining  and  Tra- 
ding Co.,  California 224 

«               "       Dubosq  &  Co.,  California 225 

«                «       J.  S.  0.,  California 224 

«               "       Miners'  Bank,  of  San  Fran- 
cisco, California  224 

«               «       Moffatt  &  Co.,  California 224 

«                "       Mormon,  Utah 225 

«                "       Oregon  Exchange  Co.,  Cal....  223 

«               «       Pacific  Mining  Co.,  Cal 224 

«               "       Templeton  Reed,  California..  224 

Three-Cent  Pieces,  1851 197 

"             "       (Pattern) 232 

«         Dollar  Pieces,  1854 172 

Three-pence,  Annapolis,  1783 95 

"           Oak-Tree,  1652 61 

"           Pine-Tree,  1652 60 

Tin-piece,  1690.. 69 

Tory  Copper,  1785 100 

Total  Coinage  of  the  U.  S.  Mint 247,  248 

Tree-Coins  60 

Twenty-Dollar  Pieces,  Baldwin  &  Co.  Cal 225 

"               "        Mormon,  Utah 225 

Twenty-five  Dollar  Pieces,  Templeton  Reed,  Cal.  224 

Two-and-a-half  Dollar  Pieces,  Mormon,  Utah  ...  225 

«         "               «              North  Carolina....  221 

Two-pence,  Oak-Tree,  1652 61 


Types  and  varieties  of  Auctori  Connec,  1785 104 

"  "  "  1786 105 

«  «  "             1787,107,108 

"  "  Cents 238 

«  «  Half-Cents 239 

"  "  Nova  Csesarea,  1786..  115, 116 

"  "  "               1787..  117-120 

"  «  «  1788 121 

"  "  Vermon  Auctori,  1788....  101 

United  States 145 

"  Gold  Coinage 155 

U.  S.  A.  Copper,  1783 89 

Vase,  Aboriginal 38 

Vermon  Auctori,  1787 99 

"            "       1788 101 

Vermont 98 

A^ermontensium  Res  Publica,  1786 98 

Vermonts  Res  Publica,  1785 98 

Virginia  Half-Penny,  (Copper)  1773 83 

"              "            (Silver)  1774 83 

Wampum 45 

Washington  Cent,  1792 131 

"  "     1792 134 

«  Cents,  1783 95 

"  "      1791 128,129 

"  "      1792 131,133 

"  Coppers,  1792 137 

"  "        1795 138 

«  Half-DoUar,  1792 133 

«  Half-Penny,  1791 138 

"  Medalet,  1790 137 

"  Medalets 140 

"  "       1795,1796,1799 139,140 

«  "         1799 141,142 

«  Piece,  1776 85 

"  Token,  1795 r. 138 

«  Tokens,  1783 95 

"  «       Coppers,  Medalets,  &c 137 

Weight 31 

Wreath  Cent 200 


■u 


INDEX   TO    THE    SUPPLEMENT. 


Introduction Page  249 


AucTORi  CoNNEC,  1785 258 

«  "        1786 ;.  258 

«  <'        1787 259 

«  «        1788 261 

Franklin  Copper,  1794 255 

New  England  Copper 252 

North  Carolina        «     252 

New  York  Coppers,  1786 253 

Nova  Constellatio,  1786 253 

Nova  Caesarea,  1786 254 

"        1787 261 

"         «        1788 262 

Oak  Tree  Shilling,  1652 251 

Pine  Tree  Shilling,  1652 251 


Pine  Tree  Shilling,  1652 251 

"        Copper,      "    252 

Tory  Copper,  1787 254 


Types  and  varieties  of  Vermon  Auctori,  1786. 
"  «  «  1787. 

«  «  «  1788. 

"  «  «  1787. 

«  «  «  1788. 


256 
257 
258 
260 
261 


Undesignated  byname 255 

«  " 255 

VermontisKes  Publica,  1785 254 

Vermon  Auctori,  1786 256 

«  1787 257 

«  1788 258 


THE    END. 


(271) 


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